Trump named undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal' by industry group

"Donald Trump was crowned the undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal during a White House ceremony on Wednesday, during which the president received a trophy after ordering the US defense department to purchase billions of dollars' worth of power from coal plants. The award was reportedly granted by the Washington Coal Club, an advocacy group with financial ties to the coal industry."

"James Grech, CEO of Peabody Energy, the largest coal company in the US, presented Trump with the bronze trophy that depicts a coalminer donning headlamp and pick. We stand here today representing the thousands of coalminers across the country to express our deep gratitude to you, sir, for the actions you've taken to support our industry, Grech said to Trump during the ceremony, which had more than a dozen coal executives and miners in attendance."

"Several Republican lawmakers and cabinet members also attended the ceremony, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, Lee Zeldin, and the secretary of the interior, Doug Burgum, who are both staunch coal advocates. The event marked Trump's signing of an executive order directing the defense department to secure long-term power purchase agreements with coal plants for military installations and other mission-critical facilities."

President Donald Trump received a bronze trophy from the Washington Coal Club after ordering the Defense Department to purchase billions of dollars of power from coal plants. James Grech, CEO of Peabody Energy, presented the trophy and thanked Trump on behalf of thousands of coalminers. Dozens of coal executives, miners, Republican lawmakers and cabinet members attended, including EPA administrator Lee Zeldin and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Trump signed an executive order requiring long-term power purchase agreements with coal plants for military installations and announced $175 million from the Department of Energy to modernize and extend coal-fired plants in several states.

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