Trump admin’s coal investments assist plants with repeated violations

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reversed its decision to close the Cumberland Fossil Plant, a coal-fired facility with a history of pollution violations, after the Trump administration appointed new board members in 2019. Originally slated for closure between 2026 and 2028, the plant had faced scrutiny for equipment failures and health concerns, leading to a multibillion-dollar settlement in 2011. Regulators cited Cumberland for air-pollution violations in 2017 and again in 2023. Following the change in TVA's board, the agency announced it would extend the plant's operational lifespan. This decision is supported by a federal pledge of $46 million aimed at keeping older coal plants operational nationwide, a key initiative of President Donald Trump's energy policy. The TVA's initial plan to retire Cumberland's units was part of a broader strategy to phase out coal power, but the new federal direction prioritizes the continued use of existing coal infrastructure.