The DOE on Thursday announced about $700 million in support for the declining coal industry with funds from the Defense Production Act. Environmentalists denounced the move, calling coal dirty and expensive.By Steven RodasThursday’s flurry of coal news from energy officials included $425 million to extend the life of 12 coal plants in several states, such as $50 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the Wheeling Power Company’s plans to ‘modernize’ the Mitchell Plant in Moundsville, West Virginia.