As we previewed yesterday, the administration made a major announcement with a suite of coal policies aiming to boost coal production and revitalize the U.S. coal fleet to meet rising power demand driven by the AI arms race.
The Department of the Interior hosted the event and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said, "We have to have a strong, powerful coal industry — not for five years, not for 10 years. It's got to be here for decades."
He announced several policies to boost coal production, including opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing and reducing the royalty rates for federal coal production from 12.5% to 7% -- a policy that was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He also said Interior will work to streamline coal lease approvals.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency would provide additional compliance time for coal plants to meet the 2024 Effluent Limitations Guidelines, a Biden-era wastewater rule. Zeldin also announced the agency is moving forward with plans to amend its regional haze rule.
The Energy Department announced it would invest $625 million into coal power plants. The investment will primarily go towards recommissioning or modernizing coal power units.
National Mining Association President Rich Nolan praised the administration's actions and said "America's coal miners are ready to meet the need." Adding, "The administration's comprehensive energy dominance strategy will ensure that our coal fleet can continue to buttress grid reliability with fuel-secure, dispatchable power."
