Climate Changed
How Coal Giant Peabody's Ideas Ended Up in Trump's Coal Study
- Coal giant gave advice to political appointee on grid report
- Energy Department proposed changes to bailout coal plants
A front loader moves coal at the Peabody Energy Somerville Central surface mine in Oakland City, Indiana.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
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Days after Energy Secretary Rick Perry requested a study on how to help coal-fired power plants, a lobbyist for the largest U.S. coal producer contacted the department to offer his advice. Many of those ideas became part of the department’s efforts to help the fuel source.
Emails obtained by the Sierra Club show that Travis Fisher, a senior adviser at the department who coordinated the report, sought and received input from Raymond Shepherd, a top Peabody Energy Corp. lobbyist in Washington.