Trump administration announces $100 million in funding to upgrade coal plants

(Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday announced that it would make $100 million available to refurbish and modernize existing coal-fired power plants.

The move is part of the Trump administration's effort to reverse the decline of coal use in the United States. The Energy Department said last month it would provide $625 million to expand power generation fueled by coal.

The number of coal-fired power plants has shrunk in recent years due to concerns about the fossil fuel's impact on public health and the environment and because of competition from cheap natural gas.

The administration of President Donald Trump has said coal can help deliver the large amounts of electricity needed to power U.S. data centers and dominate the market for artificial intelligence.

“For years, the Biden and Obama administrations relentlessly targeted America’s coal industry and workers, resulting in the closure of reliable power plants and higher electricity costs," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Thankfully, President Trump has ended the war on American coal and is restoring common sense energy policies that put Americans first. These projects will help keep America's coal plants operating and ensure the United States has the reliable and affordable power it needs to keep the lights on and power our future."

Environmentalists say Trump's push to prop up coal runs counter to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

The Energy Department said the funds would be allocated to three strategic areas: advanced wastewater management, fuel switching between coal and natural gas and coal-natural gas co-firing systems.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom in Los Angeles and Timothy Gardner in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)