Trump CA coal export terminal plan faces green legal resistance
President Donald Trump’s plan to build a coal export terminal in California is likely to spur legal challenges from environmentalists.
TL;DR
- The Trump administration is providing nearly $700 million in funding for coal infrastructure, including a new coal export terminal, the West Gateway Terminal, in Oakland, California.
- The West Gateway Terminal aims to ship coal from western states to Asian markets and is expected to begin operations by summer 2028.
- Environmental groups, including San Francisco Baykeeper and the Sierra Club, have threatened legal challenges and advocacy efforts to block the project.
- Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon indicated the state would sue to support the terminal if local or state authorities in California oppose it, citing previous legal actions.
- The project has a history of opposition from local officials and environmental groups, with past legal battles over bans on coal handling and land leases.
- The administration is also funding upgrades and new construction for coal-fired power plants across the country, including in West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona, and Alaska.