Trump Tweet Fails To Save Kentucky Coal-Fired Power Plant

Despite pressure from President Trump, the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors voted Thursday to close a large coal-fired power plant. Trump's involvement had drawn criticism because the Paradise Fossil Plant in western Kentucky buys coal from a company headed by a large donor to the president's campaign, Murray Energy Corp. Chairman, President and CEO Robert Murray.TVA board member and Trump appointee Kenny Allen was the only member to vote no on closing the Paradise plant."I am still concerned about the overall economic impact of retiring Paradise Unit 3 on the community," said Allen.Communities near the plant had lobbied to keep it open. Murray Energy employee Danny Byars told member station WKYU that he worries about long-term job security."We went from four crews to three crews [at the mine] already," Byars said. "If they shut down, then we have to find someone else to buy our coal."TVA board member and Obama appointee Virginia Lodge sided with the majority and said, "I don't want anybody to think we have not heard and understood the heartfelt pleas from these communities. If we could make our decisions based on our sympathetic feeling it would be easy. Unfortunately we've all taken an oath to do what we think is best for the entire Valley."