0:00
President Donald Trump is signing a series of executive orders today aimed at revitalizing the U.S. coal industry
0:05
He's expected to use emergency powers to keep certain aging coal-fired power plants operational
0:11
We're ending Joe Biden's war on beautiful, clean coal once and for all
0:15
And all those plants that have been closed are going to be opened if they're modern enough or they'll be ripped down and brand new ones will be built
0:24
These facilities, originally scheduled for retirement, would continue producing energy in response to rising U.S. power demands
0:31
driven by the growth of data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles
0:36
The orders will also direct federal agencies to identify coal reserves on public lands
0:41
prioritize coal leasing, and lift existing barriers to mining. Additionally, they call for ending a moratorium on new federal coal leases implemented during the Obama administration
0:51
and require agencies to reverse policies aimed at phasing out coal production
0:56
Trump's actions seek to reverse a decline in U.S. coal use for electricity generation
1:00
which has fallen from supplying 45 percent of the nation's power in 2010 to just 16 percent in 2023
1:07
as the resource has lost ground to cheaper natural gas over the years
1:12
Environmental groups have criticized the move, arguing that coal is both economically uncompetitive and environmentally harmful
1:19
warning these executive actions could slow progress on clean energy and result in higher costs for consumers
1:25
Meanwhile, the Trump administration maintains that policies aimed at phasing out coal were driving up energy prices for Americans
1:32
and says these new rules will result in more affordable power. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Elmer
