Trump pours $700 million into coal, including Oakland terminal Play

President Donald Trump yesterday pushed the gas pedal on a California loading dock for coal.

The president called coal industry bigshots into the Oval Office to announce he will pile $700 million in federal investments into the coal industry. Included in that is a $75 million federal bailout to a California coal terminal, where trainloads of coal from Wyoming will be unloaded, piled up and loaded onto ships heading to Asia.

The new Oakland export terminal he calls vital to national security.

A couple of problems with that.

First, it's not a gateway if the product is leaving. Second, the coal ships will be taking the coal away from the United States — exporting American energy and leaving the spoils behind. Third, the ships will be pushing through an area where global warming is causing more and more whales to feed.

With their Arctic food supply dwindling, more migrating gray whales have been making pit stops in San Francisco Bay to search for food. At least seven gray whales have died in the Bay this year, and experts estimate that at least 40 percent of those deaths were caused by ship strikes.

Fourth, environmental and consumer advocates warn that the move props up a declining, dirtier and often more expensive fuel than renewables. Fifth, the Oakland coal export terminal will increase utility bills, worsen air pollution and undermine climate goals in the U.S. and abroad.

Trump made his announcement in front of a roomful of coal industry executives and government officials. As they spoke right behind the president, Trump visibly fell asleep.