{{#badges: CoalSwarm}} '''Federal coal subsidies''' are forms of financial assistance paid by federal taxpayers to the coal and power industry. Such subsidies include direct spending, tax breaks and exemptions, low-interest loans, loan guarantees, loan forgiveness, grants, lost government revenue such as discounted royalty fees to mine federal lands, and federally-subsidized external costs, such as health care expenses and environmental clean-up due to the negative effects of coal use. [[External costsof coal]] include the loss or degradation of valuable ecosystems and community health.
According to the U.S. [[Energy Information Administration]], in FY 2007, refined coal (chemically enhanced to reduce certain emissions) received about $2.4 billion in subsidies.<ref>[http://www.eia.gov/energy_in_brief/energy_subsidies.cfm "How much does the Federal Government spend on energy-specific subsidies and support?"] Energy Information Administration, September 8, 2008.</ref>