The Million-Dollar Shortcut
According to POLITICO reporting, the Energy Department approved millions in funding for a coal plant project led by someone whose primary qualification appears to be activism in Trump's political movement. The company is partially led by a far-right activist and telecom executive—a combination of credentials that raises the obvious question: where are the energy engineers?
The project is being funded through the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era statute that allows the federal government to expedite funding for projects deemed critical to national security or economic competitiveness. Using it to fast-track a coal plant built by a political operative and telecom guy is... creative, at minimum.
Coal Comes Back to Washington
Coal is dying in America. The economics are brutal. Natural gas is cheaper. Renewables are increasingly competitive. Most utilities would rather retire coal plants than build new ones. So when a new coal plant gets built in 2026, it's not because the market demanded it—it's because the government is willing to subsidize it.
That the administration chose to fund this specific project, with this specific leadership team, suggests something other than rational energy policy at work. The Trump administration has made coal a totem of its energy agenda, but funding a plant led by a MAGA organizer with no energy background is a spectacular own-goal in terms of actual energy competence.
The Cronyism That Dare Not Speak Its Name
One source quoted by POLITICO said: "This is not normal." And they're right. Federal contracting is supposed to follow rules. Agencies are supposed to evaluate proposals on merit. Competitive bidding exists for a reason—to prevent exactly this kind of situation where someone's political connections become their primary professional asset.
What's happening here is textbook cronyism dressed up as energy policy. The Energy Department isn't rejecting the project on the merits; it's fast-tracking it because of political pressure from Trump to advance his coal agenda, and because the company's leadership has the right political credentials.
The Energy Future Nobody Asked For
If this coal plant gets built—and uses actual taxpayer money via Defense Production Act funding—it will be a testament to what happens when ideology overrules expertise in government procurement. A functioning federal government would find a coal company led by people who know how to run coal plants. This administration is apparently okay with a coal company led by people whose main credential is Trump loyalty.
The future of American energy policy, apparently, will be determined not by energy experts, but by MAGA organizers with portfolios.
Sources
POLITICO: 'This is not normal': Trump leans on MAGA organizer to revive coal
E&E News by POLITICO: Trump's coal vision lifts MAGA organizer with scant energy track record
Utility Dive: Trump administration announces $850M to modernize US coal capacity, build 2 new plants