The Trump administration recently announced actions to expand the U.S. coal industry.
The Department of the Interior on Sept. 29 announced it is opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed the order to advance President Donald Trump’s Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry executive order.
“By reducing the royalty rate for coal, increasing coal acres available for leasing, and unlocking critical minerals from mine waste, we are strengthening our economy, protecting national security, and ensuring that communities from Montana to Alabama benefit from good-paying jobs,” Burgum said.
The Department of Energy on Sept. 29 also announced a $625 million boost to expand the coal industry in accordance with Trump’s executive order. “These funds will help keep our nation’s coal plants operating and will be vital to keeping electricity prices low and the lights on without interruption,” said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
