Trump Signs Executive Orders to Revitalize U.S. Coal Industry
In a bid to rejuvenate the declining coal sector, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed a set of executive directives on Tuesday aimed at boosting coal production across the country.
According to the Associated Press, the orders leverage emergency powers to extend operations at aging coal-fired power plants that were previously slated for closure. The move is intended to meet the nation’s growing electricity needs, spurred by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, electric vehicles, and data centers.
Trump further instructed federal agencies to explore untapped coal reserves on public lands, ease mining restrictions, and accelerate coal leasing processes.
A significant part of the initiative includes a two-year suspension of environmental regulations for coal-powered plants—exempting them from federal rules that limit emissions of toxic substances such as mercury, arsenic, and benzene.
During the signing ceremony at the White House, Trump reiterated his longstanding support for the fossil fuel, branding it “beautiful, clean coal.”
“I told my team, never say ‘coal’ without putting ‘beautiful, clean’ in front of it,” Trump remarked, standing alongside a group of coal workers dressed in protective gear. “Coal remains the most reliable, durable, and potent form of energy available—it’s affordable, dense, and nearly indestructible.”
The executive actions also reverse policies enacted during the Obama administration that halted new coal leases on federal lands. Trump pledged renewed investments in coal technology and stronger efforts to promote U.S. coal exports abroad.
“We’re putting an end to Joe Biden’s war on clean coal,” Trump declared. “Older plants will be reopened or rebuilt using advanced technology, and coal miners will be restored to the workforce.”
However, these decisions have drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and Democratic leaders. Governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico—co-chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance—condemned the move as an unconstitutional overreach that undermines states’ rights to set their own environmental policies.
“The federal government cannot override states’ constitutional authority,” they said in a joint statement. “We remain committed to advancing climate solutions that protect public health and foster a green economy.”
Although Trump has long maintained that coal can help fulfill America’s energy needs, experts argue that market forces will continue to favor cleaner and more affordable energy sources such as natural gas and renewables.
Coal’s share of the U.S. energy mix has dropped from over 50% in 2010 to roughly 16% in 2023, with analysts predicting a continued decline despite the temporary relief provided by Trump’s actions.
Nevertheless, industry stakeholders welcomed the move. Rich Nolan, president of the National Mining Association, praised the decision as a necessary step toward energy security and economic development.
On the other hand, environmental campaigners, including Kit Kennedy from the Natural Resources Defense Council, criticized the initiative as a backward step that prioritizes a polluting energy source over sustainable alternatives.
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Trump Signs Executive Orders to Revitalize U.S. Coal Industry