President Donald Trump’s executive order has sent shockwaves throughout the U.S. energy sector, reviving the fortunes of coal-fired power plants and coal mining in America. The Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Coal have welcomed the news, which they claim will usher in the “Golden Age of Coal” and create new economic opportunities for the nation.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum Sees a Brighter Future for Coal

“The Golden Age is here, and we are starting to’mine, baby, mine’ for clean American coal,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Interior is unlocking America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation.”

Action Plan to Revitalize the Coal Mining Industry

• Expand access to coal reserves, such as the recent approval of the Spring Creek mine expansion in Montana.
• Streamline permitting processes by removing regulatory barriers that the department says have undermined American coal production.

As part of its efforts to revitalize the coal mining industry, the department is working to expand access to coal reserves and streamline permitting processes. This will enable the industry to better compete with other forms of energy production, such as natural gas and wind power.

Coal’s Place in the U.S. Energy Portfolio

Coal remains a significant component of the U.S. energy portfolio, with 46% of Utah’s net electricity generation coming from coal. However, this percentage has declined significantly since 2015, when coal accounted for 75% of the state’s electricity generation.

End of the Federal Moratorium on Coal Leases

The Department of the Interior will officially end its moratorium on federal coal leasing, which was invoked in 2016. The moratorium was designed to slow down the pace of coal leasing, but it has had the effect of limiting the supply of coal available for new projects.

A federal coal leasing program allows the federal government to grant leases to private companies to extract coal from federal lands.

A moratorium on federal coal leasing means that the federal government is temporarily stopping the granting of new leases to extract coal from federal lands.

Impact on the Nation’s Largest Coal-Producing Regions

The end of the moratorium on federal coal leasing will have a significant impact on the nation’s largest coal-producing regions, including the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. The region has been the largest coal-producing area in the country for many years.

The data shows a significant decline in coal production in both Wyoming and Montana since 2015. The end of the moratorium on federal coal leasing is expected to help reverse this trend.

Industry Reaction to the Executive Order

The National Mining Association has welcomed the executive order, calling it a “stark shift” from the prior administration’s “punitive regulatory agenda” and “hostile energy policies”.

“Despite countless warnings from the nation’s grid operators and energy regulators that we are facing an electricity supply crisis, the last administration’s energy policies were built on hostility to fossil fuels, directly targeting coal. The explosive growth and parallel energy demands of artificial intelligence and electrification have rendered that path not just unsustainable but plainly reckless,” said Rich Nolan, president and chief executive officer of the National Mining Association.

The National Mining Association has praised the executive order for recognizing the “enormous strategic value of American mined coal” and embracing the economic opportunity that comes from American energy abundance.

Opposition from Environmental Groups

Utah Clean Energy and the Environmental Defense Fund have expressed opposition to the executive order, arguing that it will lead to increased pollution and higher electricity costs for consumers.

“The United States can be ‘energy dominant’ by investing in the next generation of energy resources. Wind, solar, geothermal, and storage represent the future and incredible opportunities for the U.S. to lead. This executive order is firmly rooted in the past, setting the U.S. up to fall further behind countries like China that are leading in clean energy technology development and associated economic opportunities,” said Sarah Wright, CEO of Utah Clean Energy.

Environmental Defense Fund has also criticized the executive order, saying that it will lead to “deadly pollution” and “higher electricity costs” for consumers.

A 19th-Century Power Plan for the 21st Century

Environmental Defense Fund and other environmental groups have criticized the executive order, arguing that it is a “regressive step” that ignores the benefits of clean energy and will lead to “cost shocks” in people’s electric bills.

“We will vigorously oppose these efforts to impose more deadly pollution and higher electricity costs on all Americans. Clean and affordable solutions are the path forward. Clinging to a 19th century power plan makes no sense for 21st century America — it will only mean cost shocks in people’s electric bills, losing renewable energy jobs, surrendering U.S. manufacturing of clean energy solutions, and a public health and climate disaster,” said Ted Kelly, director of Environmental Defense Fund and lead counsel of U.S.