Trump Official Tells Coal Group He's 'an Advocate for the Coal Industry'

"'The good news is I'm with the federal government and I'm here to help,' Doug Matheney, a special adviser in the Energy Department's Office of Fossil Energy, said at the West Virginia Mining Symposium, according to S&P Global."

Why this is important: Mr. Matheney's admission that he is an advocate of the coal industry is garnering criticism from those who believe a federal official should not be publicly supporting the fossil fuel industry. What is ignored is the fact that Mr. Matheney works for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy. Accordingly, his office is tasked with developing "innovative technologies that enable the reliable, efficient, affordable, and environmentally sound use of fossil fuels," which includes coal. In addition to the Office of Fossil Energy, which is focused on coal, oil and natural gas, there is also a Department of Energy office advocating the use of nuclear energy and a Department of Energy office advocating the use of renewable energy....