On Tuesday, President Trump enacted four executive orders aimed at reversing past policies that shifted the nation away from coal production and promoting America’s “beautiful clean coal industry,” as described by the White House.
The executive actions are designed to support the U.S. in achieving affordable and reliable energy by “eliminating unnecessary regulations,” according to Mr. Trump. He stated that he is utilizing the Defense Production Act to “accelerate” coal mining in the United States and expressed that his administration is examining how to make it more challenging for companies to close down coal plants.
“Today, we’re taking groundbreaking measures to assist American workers, miners, families, and consumers,” Mr. Trump declared in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by individuals dressed in coal mining uniforms and hard hats. “We are putting an end to Joe Biden’s assault on beautiful, clean coal definitively. This has been a long-standing issue, not only with Biden but also with Obama and others. We are reversing that trend. All the plants that have been shut down will be reopened.”
Mr. Trump has consistently shown a preference for coal, while previous Democratic administrations and many developed nations have striven to shift toward renewable energy sources. The term “clean coal” usually refers to methods intended to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants, but environmental advocates argue that any coal combustion is detrimental.
The president’s actions on Tuesday categorize coal as a “mineral,” which the administration asserts will afford it greater flexibility regarding its usage. Historically, coal has been classified as a nonrenewable fossil fuel. One executive order directs federal agencies to eliminate barriers to coal mining on public lands and prioritize coal leasing, effectively ending the previous Obama-era moratorium on coal leasing on federal land. The president also instructed federal agencies to revoke any policies promoting a transition away from coal production.
Another executive order signed on Tuesday seeks to enhance grid reliability, including the use of fossil fuels. Additionally, Mr. Trump has mandated the Justice Department to investigate states that may be discriminating against coal.
“For years, people have criticized this industry and devastated it for no valid reason because, with modern advancements and technology, it remains one of the great sources of energy,” Mr. Trump asserted on Tuesday.
Mr. Trump has indicated a desire to leverage U.S. coal along with oil, natural gas, and nuclear power, and this executive order is part of a broader effort to overturn energy policies instituted by the Obama and Biden administrations. The president has also pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement and declared an energy-related national emergency while terminating former President Joe Biden’s initiatives to foster widespread electric vehicle adoption.
The president emphasized that coal miners prefer to mine coal rather than pursue high-tech jobs or other sectors.
“You could offer them a penthouse on Fifth Avenue and a different kind of job, and they wouldn’t be satisfied,” Mr. Trump remarked with the miners present behind him. “They want to mine coal. That’s their passion.”
Nevertheless, despite Mr. Trump’s focus on coal during his first term, coal production faced a slight decline between 2016, prior to his presidency, and 2020, his last full year in office, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Moreover, reflecting a broader trend of diminishing coal employment, fewer Americans were employed in the coal sector in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to January 2017 when he took office, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since 2013, no new coal plants have been commissioned, originating during the Obama administration, and the average age of the current coal fleet stands at 53 years. Presently, coal accounts for approximately 16% of the U.S. electricity supply, down from 50% two decades ago.
As of this year, only around 41,000 Americans are employed in the coal industry. In contrast, solar energy employed close to 280,000 Americans in 2023, as reported by the National Solar Job Census.
Environmental advocates warned that Mr. Trump’s executive order aimed at revitalizing coal could be a major regression.
“What’s next, legislation mandating Americans commute by horse and buggy?” questioned Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the National Resources Defense Council, in a statement.
“Trump’s coal orders elevate his allegiance to dirty fossil fuels to an alarmingly reckless degree,” declared Jason Rylander of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute. “Compelling outdated coal plants to continue polluting our air and water leads to increased cancer rates, more asthma cases, and a rise in premature deaths.”
