Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, left; House Speaker Mike Johnson; and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin watch as President Donald Trump signs an executive order directing the military to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants during a "Champion of Coal" event Wednesday at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
It adds: "It is the policy of the United States that coal is essential to our national and economic security."
Under a section titled "Power Purchase Agreements with Federal Installations," the order states that the Secretary of War, "in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall seek to procure power from the United States coal generation fleet by approving long-term Power Purchase Agreements … with coal-fired energy production facilities to serve DOW installations or other mission-critical facilities."
Speaking at the White House and flanked by members of his cabinet, coal workers and GOP lawmakers, Trump framed coal as vital to defense and industrial production.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a "Champion of Coal" event, where he ordered the Pentagon to purchase electricity from plants and announced millions of dollars to upgrade existing sites. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"I'm not a big fan of those crazy windmills that are all made in China," Trump said. "You know, they're made in China but not used by China."
Trump said the Tennessee Valley Authority was "taking action to save two major coal plants," naming the Cumberland Fossil Plant and the Kingston Fossil Plant.
"These two plants were slated for termination," Trump said, "but we're going to save over 450 jobs by keeping them going and going strong."
Trump said he was "directing the Department of Energy to issue funds" to coal plants in several states.
"In addition, I'm directing to the Department of Energy to issue funds to coal plants in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky to keep them online and keep those plants open," Trump said.
On permitting, Trump said: "In one year of Trump, we've already approved over 70 permits for very big, very powerful mines that are going to be with us for many, many years to come."
Trump said coal production and generation had increased during his tenure.
"Since I took office, coal production is up by nearly 4 million tons a month after falling for decades," he said. "Coal power generation is up by nearly 15% in my first year."
Late in the event, Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech presented Trump with an award.
"Sir. Just to show our appreciation," Grech said, "the trophy says the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal."
Trump closed by returning to what he described as American energy dominance.
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"America is now the number one energy producer in the world," he said. "We are by far number one."
The Department of War did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
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