President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on Tuesday aimed at revitalizing the coal industry, fulfilling a campaign promise to restore what he calls “America’s energy dominance.”
Under the new executive orders, Trump said his administration is slashing “unnecessary” regulations on the natural resource and cutting longtime “discrimination” against the industry.
“The value of untapped coal in our country is 100 times greater than the value of all the gold in Fort Knoxx,” Trump said during a press conference on April 8, “and we’re going to unleash it and make America rich and powerful again.”
The changes to the “beautiful, clean coal” economy mark a departure from the Joe Biden‘s administration, which aimed to reduce carbon emissions and shift toward renewable energy sources.
Why It Matters
U.S. power consumption is on the rise. New technologies—including AI, crypto mining, and data-intensive digital services—are putting pressure on utilities to deliver more electricity around the clock.
While renewable energy capacity continues to grow, solar and wind alone may not meet the round-the-clock demands of server farms and industrial users.
What executive orders did Donald Trump sign?
Trump signed four energy-focused orders on April 8, directing the following actions and were not limited to:
- Directs all departments and agencies of the federal government to end all “discriminatory policies” against the coal industry. It will allow for new coal projects on federal land and will accelerate funding for new coal projects.
- Creates a moratorium on Biden Administration-era policies which targeted certain coal-fired power plants in an effort to save coal plants from closure.
- Promotes grid reliability and security by ensuring that federal grid policies are focused on “secure and effective energy production” and transmission.
- Instructs Justice Department to identify to fight “unconstitutional” regulations at state and local levels related to the coal industry.
Coal and U.S. Energy: What to Know
Under the new series of orders, the Trump administration is expected to expedite leases for coal mining on federal lands and streamline permits to do so.
Trump said in the press conference that the executive orders also OK the use of billions of dollars in federal funding to invest in the next generation of coal technology and grants immediate relief to 47 companies operating 66 coal plants across the U.S.
Coal now generates less than 20 percent of U.S. electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which is down from about 50 percent in 2000. The drop has been driven by a surge in natural gas production, falling costs for renewables, and environmental regulations targeting carbon emissions.
Supporters of the coal industry argue that it remains essential for energy security. But environmental groups have long pushed for the transition away from coal. Rachel Cleetus, policy director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a 2023 blog suggested wealthy nations phase out coal by the end of this decade to meet climate goals.
Prior to the executive order being signed, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “[Trump] will be signing a bill to unleash the might of our beautiful, clean coal industry in this country, which is a reliable energy source.”
These actions reflect Trump’s broader energy strategy to prioritize domestic fossil fuels and reduce reliance on imported resources.
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