Internal sector restores coal industry – Watt

[Editor’s note: President Trump signed an executive order today lifting many restrictions on coal plants]

Internal Press Release Department

Action will restore the role of the coal industry in driving the economy, protecting employment and strengthening national energy security

04/08/2025

The last edit was 04/08/2025

Date: April 8, 2025

Washington – The Interior Department is reaffirming its commitment to the Trump administration’s goals for U.S. energy domination and refocus on coal. Through the executive order of President Donald J. Trump, the ministry will position coal as the cornerstone of its national energy strategy by ensuring federally managed land remains open and accessible to responsible energy development.

“The Golden Age is here, we start 'My, baby, my' clean American coal,” Home Secretary Doug Burgum said. “The Interior Department is unleashing the full potential of the U.S. in terms of energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of American natural resources and innovation.”

To support the Trump administration’s pursuit of energy dominance, the ministry is actively revitalizing the coal mine industry through a series of decisive actions. By expanding access to coal reserves, such as the recent approval of the Montana Spring Creek mine expansion and simplifying the licensing process, the government is removing long-term regulatory barriers to undermining U.S. coal production. These efforts support high-paying mining efforts and rural economies, while enhancing U.S. energy independence by reducing dependence on foreign energy. Coal is a key component of a safe, stable and diversified U.S. energy portfolio.

End coal rental

The department will formally end the moratorium on federal coal leases, a move that coincides with President Trump’s priorities to “release American energy” by reducing regulatory barriers and promoting energy independence.

The situation of action related to federal coal leasing has not been known over the past nine years. In 2016, President Obama's Interior Secretary Sally Jewell ordered BLM to suspend coal leases on public land, while BLM completed an environmental review. In 2017, President Trump's Home Secretary Ryan Zinke revoked the order. In 2021, President Biden's secretary Deb Haaland revoked Zinke's order but did not resume coal rental or environmental review. In 2024, the federal court of appeals ruled that the 2021 Hylaran Order reversed the Zinke order while ending the moratorium. The court said that all lawsuits were not justified after Hyland's order and ordered all other court cases to be dismissed.

To provide clarity and certainty to the country, the Land Administration is issuing a notice Federal Gazette It will not perform any other environmental analysis of the federal coal rental program related to the orders of former secretary Sally Jewell and effectively ends the last remaining open items related to the lease suspension.

Reopening federal land in Montana and leasing coal in Wyoming

To further support coal leasing, BLM will make amendments to the Buffalo and Myers Urban Resource Management Plan in Wyoming and Montana. Under current plans, future coal rentals are subject to strict restrictions, making new federal coal projects even more difficult. Over time, these plans could significantly reduce the availability of federal coal reserves in the country’s two largest coal-producing regions. By revising these plans, an internal pathway will be established to obtain unexplored federal coal reserves, especially in high-yield areas such as the Wyoming Powder River Basin.

Eliminate the regulatory burden of coal mines

The U.S. Office of Energy, Ground Mining and Law Enforcement will adopt rule-making procedures to modify the 2024 10-day notice rule to largely restore the 2020 rule while retaining certain parts of the 2024 rule. This rule-making process will help reduce heavy federal oversight and provide states with more power on how to deal with complaints about coal-mine violations. By removing federal excesses to the 2024 rules, the ministry will trust states while avoiding unnecessary federal intervention and providing stability to the coal industry.

Provide royalty fee reductions

The department is expected to simplify and speed up the process of reviewing coal producer requirements to temporarily reduce the amount of payments it pays to the federal government to withdraw coal from public land. Lower royalties can help keep mines open and maintain local tax revenues.

By expediting royalty relief requests, internal aims to keep coal operators open, which supports stable domestic energy production and maximizes the long-term resource recovery of federal land.

As the department supports the coal industry through the above actions by continuing to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, the Interior Department will improve responsible coal development, high-paying jobs and long-term energy security by openly obtaining the vast U.S. energy resources.

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