President Trump urged the Tennessee Valley Authority on Monday to weigh the job benefits of coal before deciding to close a plant in Kentucky.

"Coal is an important part of our electricity generation mix and @TVAnews should give serious consideration to all factors before voting to close viable power plants, like Paradise #3 in Kentucky!" the president tweeted.



Coal is an important part of our electricity generation mix and @TVAnews should give serious consideration to all factors before voting to close viable power plants, like Paradise #3 in Kentucky! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2019

A key pillar of Trump's energy policy is to keep coal in the energy mix and miners working.

TVA is studying whether to close the Paradise Fossil Plant's Unit 3 generator, as its two other power producing units have already been converted to cleaner-burning natural gas. TVA is a large federally owned company that was created during the Great Depression to spur economic development in the southeast.

The president made his statement as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., released a video on Monday, demonstrating continued support for the plant.

“Time and again, the people of Kentucky have loudly spoken in support of coal," McConnell said. "I’m proud to join them today in opposing the closing of Paradise Unit 3."

Demonstrators from the local community had been protesting to keep the plant open through the weekend.

Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin had asked TVA president Bill Johnson in a letter last month to keep the plant open. Bevin said closing the plant would be disastrous for the local economy in that part of the state.

