Donald Trump has pledged to reverse America’s anti-fossil fuel policy and open hundreds more coal-fired power plants in an effort to make US industry more competitive with China.

He wants to halt the closures of coal plants – the “dirtiest” form of power generation – driven by environmental regulations, that have shut down hundreds of power stations and which threaten 120 more.

The demand for closures was led by environmental groups because coal is the most polluting of fossil fuels, generating twice as much CO2 per unit of energy when compared with gas, and pouring other toxins into the air such as soot and mercury.

However in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump’s social media platform, he criticised environmentalists for such criticisms and pledged to reverse the shut downs.

“After years of being held captive by Environmental Extremists, Lunatics, Radicals, and Thugs, allowing other Countries, in particular China, to gain tremendous Economic advantage over us by opening up hundreds of all Coal Fire Power Plants, I am authorising my Administration to immediately begin producing Energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL,” he wrote.

His policy contrasts with the UK, which last year shut down its last coal fired power station, with Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, banning all new fossil fuel extraction and accelerating the shift to renewables.