The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it would hand out $625 million to try to extend the life of a handful of aging coal plants even as electric utilities across the country continue to invest in cleaner and more affordable sources of energy. Over 8 gigawatts of coal power are scheduled to be retired this year alone.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum also announced his department would release 13 million acres of federal land for coal.

Earlier this year, the DOE quietly disbanded the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and has yet to use the funds appropriated by Congress to help prepare coal communities for coal plant closures.

Following the announcements, the BlueGreen Alliance released a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:

“The Trump administration is wasting millions of dollars to prop up the coal industry when it could be spending it to revitalize energy communities and support workers. With this announcement, Trump is doing what he does best, handing payouts to his billionaire buddies. All while he’s cutting federal investments for the energy future and sabotaging jobs for struggling coal communities. 

“Hardworking families in these communities deserve good jobs and a clean environment. We can’t do that with a president stuck in the past. Trump should be investing in these communities, diversifying their economies, and bringing new opportunities for good, union job creation.”