BILLINGS, Mont. – Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden says the Trump administration is “trampling” on the rights of West Coast communities as it considers using military bases or other federal facilities for fossil fuel exports.

The Democratic Wyden said in statement Monday that the federal government should invest in renewable fuels and not try to prop up dirty energy sources such as coal.

The administration proposal was described to The Associated Press by Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke and two Republican lawmakers.

West Coast officials who have rejected private-sector efforts to build new coal ports to ship the fuel to Asia.

Zinke says it’s a matter of national security to ensure U.S. allies in the Pacific Rim have access to affordable fuels.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story)