NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The nation’s largest public utility says it now would prefer to keep operating two coal-fired power plants it had planned to shutter, changing course before a meeting of its board, which has a majority of members picked by the coal-friendly Trump administration.

President Donald Trump is making another major bid to bolster the shrinking US coal-power industry. He’ll use $175 million in government funds to upgrade six plants and have the Defense Department buy power from others.

"Eastern Kentuckians need meaningful relief," one lawmaker said.

The Statistical Review of World Energy reports that coal accounted for 58% of China’s primary energy consumption in 2024.