The Trump administration reportedly plans to save struggling U.S. coal power plants by ordering grid operators to buy electricity from them, a move that Bloomberg News describes as an “unprecedented intervention into U.S. energy markets.” Citing a 41-page draft memo outlining the plans, Bloomberg News reports that the Energy Department wants to use emergency authority under two federal laws to force operators to buy electricity or electric-generation capacity from money-losing facilities. “Federal action is necessary to stop the further premature retirements of fuel-secure generation capacity,” the memo reportedly states. The issue is said to be up for discussion at a National Security Council meeting Friday. It was not immediately clear if President Trump, who repeatedly vowed to save coal plants on the campaign trail, had signed off on the plan.
Read it at Bloomberg News
