Trump Signs 4 Executive Orders to Revive Coal, Spurs Legal Clash/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders Tuesday aimed at reviving the coal industry, including emergency measures to keep aging coal plants operational. The moves sparked immediate backlash from state leaders and environmental groups, who warned of legal battles and climate consequences. Trump called coal “beautiful” and essential for America’s energy dominance.
Trump’s Push to Revive Coal Industry Sparks Legal and Environmental Tensions: Quick Looks
- Orders Signed: Trump signed four executive orders to extend coal plant life, boost mining, and slash emissions regulations.
- Emergency Measures: Older coal plants slated for closure can continue operations amid rising electricity demand.
- Emission Rollbacks: A two-year exemption from toxic emissions rules granted to coal-fired plants.
- Federal Land Mining: Agencies ordered to prioritize coal leasing and identify untapped resources.
- State Pushback: Governors from New York and New Mexico called the orders unconstitutional overreach.
- Climate Alliance: Bipartisan coalition representing 55% of U.S. population vows legal resistance.
- Interior & Energy Leadership: Doug Burgum and Chris Wright tapped to lead new National Energy Dominance Council.
- Environmental Rollbacks: EPA under Lee Zeldin to undo 31 environmental rules including climate science findings.
- Coal Industry Response: Industry groups celebrated the decision, citing grid reliability concerns.
- Environmental Concerns: Groups argue coal is uncompetitive, polluting, and economically outdated.
Trump Signs 4 Executive Orders to Revive Coal, Spurs Legal Showdown
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — April 8, 2025 — President Donald Trump signed a sweeping set of executive orders Tuesday aimed at reviving the coal industry, calling the fuel source “beautiful, clean, and nearly indestructible.” The moves are the centerpiece of his renewed promise to deliver U.S. “energy dominance” and respond to growing power demands fueled by AI, data centers, and electric vehicles.
The four orders invoke emergency authority to keep older coal-fired power plants operational past scheduled retirements and mandate federal agencies to lift restrictions on coal mining. A related proclamation grants plants a two-year exemption from federal limits on mercury, arsenic, and other toxic emissions.
“Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy,” Trump said, flanked by hard-hatted miners at the White House.
Trump also ordered federal agencies to end Obama-era coal leasing moratoriums and roll back any regulations seen as transitioning the U.S. away from coal. He tasked Attorney General Pam Bondi with fighting state-level laws that restrict coal usage, calling them unconstitutional barriers to energy production.
States Push Back
Governors Kathy Hochul (NY) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM), co-chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance, swiftly condemned the actions.
“The federal government cannot unilaterally strip states’ independent constitutional authority,” they said in a joint statement, vowing to pursue legal action.
The U.S. Climate Alliance, made up of 24 governors from both parties, represents over half the U.S. population and remains committed to decarbonization and clean energy investment.
Council for Energy Dominance
Trump appointed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to lead the new National Energy Dominance Council, tasked with fast-tracking coal, oil, and gas projects. The panel has sweeping authority to cut regulatory red tape and override agency decisions that limit fossil fuel development.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also announced plans to roll back 31 environmental regulations, including key scientific findings that underpin U.S. climate policy.
Industry Cheers, Environmentalists Alarmed
The National Mining Association applauded Trump’s initiative, claiming it will secure America’s energy grid and reinvigorate coal communities.
“This clearly prioritizes how to responsibly keep the lights on,” said CEO Rich Nolan.
But environmental groups were quick to criticize the actions. Kit Kennedy of the Natural Resources Defense Council called the coal comeback “regressive” and economically unviable.
“What’s next, a mandate that Americans must commute by horse and buggy?” Kennedy asked.
Energy analysts argue that despite federal support, coal remains economically disadvantaged compared to natural gas and renewables. Coal now generates only 16% of U.S. electricity, down from 45% in 2010, while natural gas and renewables have surged.
In Montana and Wyoming’s Powder River Basin — once the epicenter of U.S. coal production — companies face new EPA rules requiring significant pollution reductions. Trump’s administration aims to reverse those mandates and extend operations at plants like Montana’s Colstrip Generating Station, one of the nation’s most polluting facilities.
Legacy and Outlook
Trump’s orders mark his boldest pro-coal move since his first term in 2018, when a proposal to subsidize coal and nuclear plants failed amid backlash from utility companies and bipartisan lawmakers.
This time, with energy demand surging and grid operators warning of shortages, Trump is betting that the moment is ripe to revive coal — legally, economically, and politically.
But with lawsuits from states looming and the market still tilting toward cleaner energy, it’s uncertain whether this coal revival will last beyond campaign trail slogans.
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