Indiana Utilities Must Support Renewable Energy as Trump Sells Out Public Land & Public Health to Costly Coal

Indianapolis, Ind. -Today, the Trump administration announcedits "Coal Day 2.0" agenda, which includes opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining leases and extending compliance deadlines and rolling back safeguards against air and water pollution. Since Trump took office, Duke has expressed interest in burning more coal, supported his coal-pollution agenda, and all utilities will be able to pollute Indiana moreas a result.

In the last two decades, coal mining in the U.S. has steadily declined due to innovations of renewable energy sources, and public opposition to coal due to the myriad of negative impacts coal production has on public health and the environment. Earlier this year, the Trump administration delayed compliance of health protections for coal miners, and cut free black lung screenings for miners.

Indiana Beyond Coal Organizer Megan Anderson issued the following statement:

"Every Hoosier utility leader has an obligation to the people of this state to deliver affordable, clean, and reliable energy, not bow down to a dangerous political agenda at the expense of clean air and public land. Energy affordability for Hoosiers will not be achieved by propping up the declining coal industry at the expense of our wallets, health, and natural resources."

Sierra Club Chief Program Officer Holly Bender issued the following statement:

"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Trump administration's reckless actions announced today will hurt the American people, all to prop up the aging and outdated coal industry.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, it is 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 man 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.