West Virginians Will Pay the Price as Trump Sells Out Public Lands, Public Health to Costly Coal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -Today, the Trump administration announced its "Coal Day 2.0" agenda, which includes opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining leases, extending compliance deadlines, and rolling backsafeguards against air and water pollution.

In the last two decades, coal mining in the U.S. has steadily declineddue to innovations in renewable energy sources and public opposition to coal due to the myriad negative impacts coal production has on public health and the environment.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration delayed compliancewith health protections for coal miners, and cut free black lung screeningsfor miners. The Trump administration has also begun rolling back a numberof safeguardsthat limit toxic pollution from coal-fired power plants.

In response, Sierra Club West Virginia Chair Jim Kotcon issued the following statement:

"For centuries, West Virginia has borne the brunt of coal's consequences, from asthma attacks to cancer battles and energy costs so high that people cannot afford to provide for daily needs. Roll backs for billionaires and polluting coal corporations are no show of loyalty to West Virginians who contend daily with coal's high cost. Accountability is needed, not handouts that reverse protections for our neighbors, land, and waterways across the state."

Sierra Club Chief Program Officer Holly Bender added:

"The Trump administration's reckless actions announced today will hurt the American people, all to prop up the aging and outdated coal industry. Coal power is now not only the dirtiest form of electricity, but it is also one of the most expensive, contributing to the rising cost of Americans' energy bills.

"Donald Trump's plan doesn't just saddle us with higher bills, he wants to lease millions of acres of public lands to mining companies and further slash protections for our clean air and water. Rather than investing in clean, affordable energy to power our country, more coal will increase deadly air pollution, poison our water with harmful heavy metals, and drastically worsen the health of our loved ones.

"If this dangerous agenda continues to advance, years from now we will look around at failing health outcomes, skyrocketing bills, and a decaying environment, and there will be one group to blame: Donald Trump and his Republican enablers. But we will not stand by as this administration takes a wrecking ball to the progress we have made, and we will continue to defend our health, our environment, and our futures."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.