SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Trump administration is committed to making fossil fuels cleaner rather than imposing "draconian" regulations on coal and oil, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Thursday at an energy conference in Salt Lake City.

Perry previously said the administration wants to spend a half-billion dollars next year on fossil fuel research and development as demand plummets for coal and surges for natural gas.

"Instead of punishing fuels that produce emissions through regulation, we're seeking to reduce those emissions by innovation," Perry said at the conference.

Fossil fuel emi...