Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., on Newsmax Thursday praised President Donald Trump's plan to use Cold War-era national defense authorities to direct nearly $700 million toward supporting U.S. coal facilities, arguing the move will help meet growing energy demands and strengthen domestic manufacturing.
Speaking on "Bianca Across the Nation," Meuser said Trump's leadership is needed as electricity demand rises across the country and as Pennsylvania continues to play a major role in coal production.
"The president's leadership is crucial here," Meuser said. "Our grid demands are increasing rapidly."
The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to use national defense powers to provide financial support for coal-related operations, part of a broader effort to bolster domestic energy production and maintain reliability of the nation's power grid.
Meuser highlighted Pennsylvania's position as a leading coal producer and said it remains an important source of electricity generation in the state.
"Pennsylvania is a huge supplier of both bituminous as well as anthracite coal," he said. "Already, coal provides 19% of Pennsylvania's electric power. And that demand is growing."
Trump has frequently referred to coal as "clean and beautiful" while promoting policies aimed at expanding fossil fuel production and easing regulations on the industry. Meuser echoed that characterization, pointing to improvements in emissions from coal-fired power plants.
"We are 60[%], 70%, 75% cleaner with pollutant emissions than we were out of coal plants just 15 years ago," said Meuser.
He also emphasized the role of anthracite coal in steelmaking, noting that northeastern Pennsylvania contains significant anthracite reserves.
"Anthracite coal, which is positioned largely within my district, is essential in the production of American-made steel," Meuser said.
Meuser said the administration's efforts are intended to help Pennsylvania and the nation keep pace with increasing energy needs while supporting domestic industries.
"There's so many important things that are being done here," he said. "The president's leaning in on really helping Pennsylvania and our country just stay ahead of the energy demands that we continue to have."
The funding proposal is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to expand U.S. energy production and strengthen the country's industrial base.
The Trump administration has framed energy issues in existential terms as it eyes the domestic need to sustain power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers and aims to marginalize foreign adversaries that hold large fossil fuel reserves.
Coal, though, has faced steady declines in U.S. usage. It once accounted for more than half of U.S. electricity generation but fell to less than one-fifth in recent years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Power producers have largely switched to cheaper natural gas and renewable sources, wary of fossil fuel's effect on the planet's warming climate and increasing reliance on brittle global supply chains.
Of the $700 million, more than half will fund 13 coal plant upgrades, $185 million will match corporate funds for coal facilities in Alaska, Maryland, and West Virginia, and $75 million will support the long-proposed West Gateway export terminal in Northern California.
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