President Trump on Monday urged the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to consider “all factors” before the agency votes on whether to close a coal plant in Kentucky.
“Coal is an important part of our electricity generation mix and @TVAnews should give serious consideration to all factors before voting to close viable power plants, like Paradise #3 in Kentucky!” Trump tweeted.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation that provides power to roughly 10 million people in seven states, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi.
{mosads}The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but tweeted later Monday evening.
“Mr. President, coal is an important part of TVA’s power generation mix and we will give serious consideration to all factors as we make this decision,” the company said.
The president’s attempt to nudge the agency toward keeping the Paradise, Ky., plant open comes ahead of a Feb. 14 meeting of the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors.
WBKO in Bowling Green, Ky., reported that residents near the coal plant rallied on Saturday to protest the possible closure of the hub, which is a dual coal-fired and natural gas facility. The Tennessee Valley Authority has already shuttered a number of other sites, the news outlet said.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), whose district includes Paradise, welcomed the president’s efforts to sway the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Trump campaigned in 2016 on a pledge to restore the coal industry, and his administration has taken a number of steps in an effort to boost that sector of the economy.
The Environmental Protection Agency in August announced a coal power plan that aims to undo Obama-era regulations for coal-fired plants.
While Trump administration officials hailed the plan as a needed upgrade to free the coal industry of restrictions, environmental groups have warned that it would exacerbate the effects of climate change.
-Updated 8:06 p.m.