Trump dumps 'clean coal' research

Washington

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump promised his administration would bring about "clean coal", but his budget proposed slashing research the industry says it needs to make that a reality.

The Energy Department has spent more than US$200 million a year on research into ways to capture and store the carbon dioxide emitted when coal is burned to make electricity. Under Mr Trump's proposal released on Tuesday that would be cut to US$31 million, an 85 per cent reduction.

"It's extremely disappointing," said Brad Crabtree, vice-president of fossil energy for the Great Plains Institute, a Minneapolis-based group that studies energy and advocates on behalf of carbon capture.

"I think at some point the administration is going to have to decide whether they intend to keep their commitments to en…