(CNN) President Donald Trump has promised to stick up for the coal industry, winning fans in key states that helped put him in the White House.

But despite his efforts, as CNN reported this week, market forces have led more coal-fired plants to closed under Trump in his first term than in former President Barack Obama's first term.

Recent polling suggests more Americans want to cut down on coal usage, with even Republicans divided on the issue.

In a Pew Research survey from April 2018, two-thirds of Americans said they think developing alternative sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen technology should be the priority over only 22% who thought expanding exploration and production of oil, coal, and natural gas should be the priority. That's the largest number who wanted to develop alternative sources since Pew began tracking the question in 2011.

Republicans have fluctuated on the question, but in January 2017 , they were closely divided. Forty-five percent of Republicans said that year they would prefer developing alternative sources and 44% wanted to stick to coal.

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