The Trump administration has announced new policies designed to expand the coal industry in the United States and reverse regulations from previous administrations that affected coal production and power plants. The announcement was made at a joint event held by the Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, D.C., attended by U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, both Republicans from Wyoming.
During the event, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum revealed that 13.1 million acres of federal land would be opened for coal leasing. This move increases the available land for coal development to three times more than what was set under previous legislation.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the agency will revise regional haze rules implemented during the Biden administration. These rules had been cited as a factor threatening to close coal plants across the country.
The DOE also announced a $625 million investment aimed at revitalizing and expanding America’s coal sector.
Senator Barrasso commented on these developments, saying, “Coal is one of the most affordable, available and reliable sources of American energy. Wyoming is the Saudi Arabia of coal. We have enough to power this country for the next century, if not two centuries and beyond,” said Senator Barrasso. “With today’s announcement, we now have the tools we need to expand coal production on federal lands and strengthen our mining workforce and the communities they support in Wyoming. We are so grateful for President Trump saying energy security is national security. He has put together an all-star team to take us down that road. Together with the Trump administration, we’re getting America back on track and unleashing Wyoming energy like never before.”
Senator Lummis added, “The Trump administration under the leadership of Secretary Burgum and Administrator Zeldin are delivering for Wyoming’s coal miners,” said Senator Lummis. “The Obama and Biden administrations did everything they could to shut down American coal production, costing good jobs and raising energy prices for working families. It was great to visit the Department of the Interior this morning to discuss expanding American coal production and meet with some outstanding miners from Wyoming.”
Both senators met with miners from Wyoming’s NTEC Antelope Mine during their visit.
