President Trump Uses Defense Production Act to Fund Coal Industry

川普總統利用《國防生產法》資助煤炭工業

Jun 4, 2026, 20:52
USPolitics

Introduction

President Donald Trump has approved $700 million to support American coal production and infrastructure by using emergency laws originally designed for wartime.

唐納德·川普總統已批准 7 億美元，利用原為戰爭設計的緊急法案來支持美國的煤炭生產與基礎設施。

Main Body

The administration is using the Defense Production Act of 1950 to provide a large amount of financial support to the coal sector. Specifically, $425 million will go to thirteen power plants in ten states, and $75 million will be used to build a coal export terminal in California. Furthermore, about $200 million—taken from climate projects—will be used to build two new plants in Alaska and West Virginia and restart one in Maryland. These steps are part of a larger effort to stop the decline of coal, which dropped from a 45% market share in 2010 to around 15-17% by 2025.

政府正利用 1950 年的《國防生產法》向煤炭部門提供大量資金支持。具體而言，4.25 億美元將撥給分布在十個州的 13 座發電廠，另有 7,500 萬美元將用於在加州建設一座煤炭出口碼頭。此外，約 2 億美元（從氣候項目中撥得）將用於在阿拉斯加州和西維吉尼亞州興建兩座新廠，並在馬里蘭州重新啟動一座工廠。這些步驟是一個更大規模計畫的一部分，旨在阻止煤炭產業的衰退，其市場佔有率已從 2010 年的 45% 下降至 2025 年的 15-17% 左右。

There are strong disagreements regarding this policy. The National Mining Association and Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that coal is necessary to keep energy prices stable and meet the high electricity needs of artificial intelligence and global political instability. However, environmental groups like the Sierra Club argue that these subsidies help corporations instead of public health. They assert that using carbon-heavy plants will increase breathing problems and raise costs for consumers, especially since solar and wind energy grew significantly in 2025.

針對這項政策存在強烈分歧。國家採礦協會與能源部長 Chris Wright 強調，煤炭對於維持能源價格穩定，以及滿足人工智慧的高電力需求和應對全球政治不穩定至關重要。然而，像山脈俱樂部（Sierra Club）這樣的環保團體則認為，這些補貼是在幫助企業而非維護公眾健康。他們主張，使用高碳排放發電廠將增加呼吸道問題並提高消費者的成本，尤其是太陽能和風能在 2025 年已顯著成長。

At the same time, the government is removing environmental rules. The administration has cancelled a 2009 EPA rule regarding climate risks and ordered that several plants stay open longer. The president claims these actions will lower the cost of living, even though coal burning is known to cause pollution and health risks.

與此同時，政府正在取消環境法規。政府已取消 2009 年美國環保署（EPA）關於氣候風險的一項規定，並命令數座發電廠延長營運時間。總統聲稱這些行動將降低生活成本，儘管眾所周知燒煤會造成污染並帶來健康風險。

Conclusion

The United States has made a major financial and legal shift back toward coal, which goes against the global trend of moving toward renewable energy.

美國在財務與法律方面做出了重大轉向，重新回歸煤炭，這與全球邁向可再生能源的趨勢背道而馳。

Vocabulary Learning

The 'Nuance Shift': Moving from Simple to Precise

At an A2 level, you likely use words like 'say', 'big', or 'bad'. To reach B2, you must replace these 'general' words with 'precise' words. This article is a goldmine for this transition.

⚡ The 'Say' Upgrade

In the text, people aren't just 'saying' things; they are positioning their arguments. Notice the difference:

  • A2 style: "They say coal is necessary."
  • B2 style: "They emphasized that coal is necessary." →\rightarrow (This means they are highlighting the importance).
  • A2 style: "They say it helps companies."
  • B2 style: "They assert that these subsidies help corporations." →\rightarrow (This means they are stating a strong belief as a fact).

🏗️ Sophisticated Connectors

Stop using 'And' and 'But' for every sentence. The article uses Transition Anchors to guide the reader through a complex argument:

  1. "Specifically...": Use this when you move from a general idea (money for coal) to the exact details (13 plants in 10 states).
  2. "Furthermore...": This is the B2 version of 'also'. It adds a new, important layer to the information.
  3. "However...": A sharper way to introduce a contradiction or a different opinion.

🔍 Vocabulary Pivot: 'General' →\rightarrow 'Professional'

Look at how the text describes money and change. Instead of using basic adjectives, it uses Industry Terms:

A2 WordB2 Replacement from TextContext
Money/HelpSubsidiesGovernment money given to a business.
ChangeShiftA movement from one direction to another.
Low/DownDeclineA steady decrease in quality or amount.
RulesInfrastructureThe basic physical systems (roads, power plants).

Vocabulary Learning

administration (n.)
the group of people who run a government or organization.
Example:The administration announced new policies to improve education.
financial (adj.)
relating to money or finance.
Example:The financial report showed a significant increase in revenue.
sector (n.)
a part or division of a larger system, especially in the economy.
Example:The technology sector has grown rapidly over the past decade.
export (v.)
to send goods or services to another country for sale.
Example:The company plans to export its new product line to Europe next year.
climate (n.)
the weather conditions in a particular area over a long period.
Example:The climate in the region is characterized by hot summers and mild winters.
renewable (adj.)
capable of being replenished or replaced naturally.
Example:Solar and wind power are examples of renewable energy sources.
instability (n.)
lack of stability; unpredictability or frequent change.
Example:Economic instability can lead to rapid shifts in market confidence.
corporations (n.)
large companies or businesses, especially those with many employees.
Example:Corporations often lobby governments for favorable regulations.
pollution (n.)
the presence of harmful substances in the air, water, or land.
Example:Air pollution in the city has caused many residents to develop asthma.
shift (n.)
a change or movement from one state or position to another.
Example:There has been a shift in consumer preferences toward eco-friendly products.
Practice B2 words in a crossword→