Three Key Takeaways:
- Donald Trump’s executive order aims to revive the American coal industry by designating coal as a “mineral,” ending the pause on coal leasing on federal lands, and promoting coal technology exports, all while counteracting Biden’s policies.
- With support from the Department of Energy, Interior, and EPA, the order seeks to unlock coal reserves, create high-paying jobs, and strengthen U.S. energy independence, marking a new “Golden Age” for American mining.
- The order includes a $200 billion commitment from the Energy Department for coal investments and a commitment to ending the war on coal, positioning the industry as a cornerstone of America’s energy future.
President Trump just delivered on another major campaign promise.
The coal industry is about to roar back to life.
And Donald Trump blindsided left-wing elites with this coal announcement that sent Democrats into a panic.
Trump declares “Mine, Baby, Mine” as coal industry gets new life
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that will breathe new life into America’s coal industry after years of suffocation under the Biden administration.
The executive order designates coal as a “mineral,” ends the pause on coal leasing on federal lands, and promotes coal technology exports.
“Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy,” Trump declared at the signing. “It’s cheap, incredibly efficient, high density, and it’s almost indestructible. You could drop a bomb on it, and it’s going to be there for you to use the next day, which you can’t say with any other form of energy.”
“Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure, and powerful form of energy. It’s cheap, incredibly efficient, high density, and it’s almost indestructible.” — President Trump pic.twitter.com/DejBpnK3gr
— American Energy Institute (@4AmericanEnergy) April 8, 2025
The Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, and Environmental Protection Agency all announced major initiatives to support the President’s order.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t mince words about how badly the previous administration damaged American energy production.
“Coal is essential for generating 24/7 electricity generation that powers American homes and businesses, but misguided policies from previous administrations have stifled this critical American industry,” Wright said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
Interior Department declares the “Golden Age” of American mining
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum enthusiastically embraced the new direction, declaring “The Golden Age is here, and we are starting to ‘Mine, Baby, Mine’ for clean American coal. 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.”
Burgum added that the Department of 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.”
The Interior Department’s actions will expand access to coal reserves and cut through the red tape that has strangled the permitting process for years.
According to the department, these moves will “support high-paying mining jobs and rural economies, while strengthening U.S. energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources.”
Energy Department commits $200 billion to coal investments
Secretary Wright announced five major initiatives to strengthen coal innovation and mineral independence, including reinstating the National Coal Council that Biden allowed to expire in 2021.
Perhaps most significantly, the Energy Department’s Loan Program Office will make $200 billion in financing available for coal energy investments, such as upgrading infrastructure and building new facilities.
The department is also designating steelmaking coal as a critical material and mineral in the 2025 Critical Materials Assessment, recognizing its vital importance to national security.
“The value of untapped coal in our country is 100 times greater than the value of all the gold at Fort Knox, and we’re going to unleash it and make America rich and powerful again under this order,” Trump said before signing the executive order.
EPA Administrator vows to end the war on coal
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin didn’t hold back in his criticism of the previous administrations’ anti-coal agenda.
“The Obama and Biden administrations deliberately tried to regulate coal out of existence,” Zeldin said in comments provided to Fox News Digital.
He promised a new approach at the EPA, saying “Under my leadership, economic growth and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive choices. We are committed to supporting all forms of energy, including clean beautiful coal, and have already taken steps to bolster America’s energy dominance and make energy affordable again while ensuring we have the cleanest air, land and water on the planet.”
The EPA announced $5.8 million in State and Tribal Assistance Grants to help implement coal programs, and is already reconsidering Biden’s “Clean Power Plan 2.0” that threatened to shutter more coal plants across America.
During the signing ceremony, Trump was joined by coal miner Jeff Crowe, who even had his speech signed by the President during the East Room event.
This executive order fulfills one of Trump’s key campaign promises to make America energy independent again. During his campaign, Trump vowed, “We will develop the liquid gold that is right under our feet, including American oil and natural gas and we will also embrace nuclear, clean coal, hydropower, which is fantastic, and every other form of affordable energy to get it done.”
This executive order builds on Trump’s energy agenda that has already delivered results for American families. He’s pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, killed the radical Green New Deal, and lifted Biden’s chokehold on liquefied natural gas exports.
Biden spent four years doing everything possible to destroy America’s coal industry. Now that Trump has unleashed our energy potential, those days of high prices and unreliable power grids are over.
