Brian Willis, 202.253.7486, Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - E&E News reported yesterday that last year, coal executive Bob Murray presented Trump administration officials with six draft executive orders focused on ending clean air and water protections for dangerous coal pollution. The orders took aim at public health protections, several of which have since been targeted for elimination, significant roll-backs, or delay by federal agencies. According to E&E News, Trump did not sign the orders, but his administration has taken other approaches to implementing similar policies, such as undercutting Effluent Limitations Guidelines, attempting to scrap the Clean Power Plan, and leaving the Paris Climate Agreement.
Sourced from FOIA documents, the revelation is similar to news stories about a memo that Murray gave Rick Perry last year that mapped out the executive’s demands to scrap public health and climate protections for the sake of his company’s profit. Despite the Trump administration's attempts to gut these public health protections, 25 coal plants have retired since Trump took office and 2018 is expected to be a milestone year for America’s transition away from coal and toward clean energy resources like solar, wind, and energy storage.
In response, Bill Corcoran, Regional Campaign Director for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, released the following statement:
“The new media revelation that the coal industry and Donald Trump’s dirty agenda are one and the same isn’t surprising, considering Trump has run the White House like a polluter’s paradise, granting outrageous favors to campaign donors from the fossil fuel industry, trampling the rule of law, and ignoring vital public health protections.
“Despite Trump’s efforts to revive the coal industry, 25 coal plants have already retired since he took office and the solar and wind industries are still replacing them at a rapid clip. Coal is not coming back, but Trump is still scrapping public health protections and putting people’s lives in danger to keep a small group of coal executives wealthy. For Trump, profit is more important than people, and that’s why we spend everyday fighting him.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, 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 www.sierraclub.org.