Americans desire to work in coal mines, according to Trump's statement.
President Donald Trump signed four executive orders in 2025 aimed at revitalising the U.S. coal industry. The orders, signed at the White House on Tuesday, aim to provide regulatory relief, invest in next-generation coal technology, and expedite coal mining leases on federal lands.
Details of Executive Orders
The first order, signed on July 17, 2025, grants two years of regulatory relief from stringent EPA emissions standards affecting coal plants, iron ore processing, and some chemical manufacturers. This relief allows facilities to comply with pre-Biden EPA standards until July 2029, avoiding costly and technically unfeasible compliance requirements.
Another order signed on August 7, 2025, directs Energy Secretary Chris Wright to invest billions in next-generation coal technology and expedite coal mining leases and permitting on federal lands. The order also instructs the Justice Department to challenge state and local regulations that hinder coal mining, and invokes the Defense Production Act to "turbocharge" domestic coal mining.
Additional orders from April 2025 include exemptions for certain coal-fired power plants from new emissions standards, actions against state laws seen as obstructive to domestic energy resources, and measures to strengthen the electric grid's reliability.
Potential Economic Impact
The regulatory relief may help keep coal plants operational, preserving thousands of jobs and supporting industries reliant on coal-generated electricity. Investments in next-gen coal technology and expedited leases aim to revitalise the coal sector and reduce dependency on foreign energy. Legal action against state restrictions may remove barriers for coal operations, potentially increasing production and employment. Maintaining coal plants supports the electrical grid’s stability and could moderate electricity prices by ensuring baseload power availability.
Potential Environmental Impact
Rolling back Biden-era emissions regulations likely results in increased pollution from coal plants compared to stricter standards, potentially raising greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Expediting coal mining and power plant operations may strain environmental protections, impacting air quality, land, and water resources. However, investment in "next generation" coal technology might imply some efforts to develop cleaner coal technologies, but details on these technologies' environmental benefits or commercial viability are not provided.
In summary, these executive orders strongly favour coal industry revival through regulatory rollbacks, investments, and legal protections aimed at economic and grid reliability benefits. However, they carry potential risks for increased environmental pollution and setbacks to climate goals.
During his speech at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner, Trump repeated his story about coal miners and their preference for working in coal mines over other types of jobs. Trump's comments about coal miners and non-coal jobs were made on two separate occasions in April 2025.
It is worth noting that there are approximately 140 coal plants left in the U.S., and wind and solar energy are considered more economically viable. The Associated Press reported that the executive orders Trump signed also direct federal agencies to allow coal leasing agreements on federal land.
Trump's policies, particularly his focus on tariffs and coal, are likely to negatively impact various aspects of American life, including consumer goods prices and technology stocks. The American Dream, as most people would understand it, involves getting paid a fair wage and being able to afford things for one's family, not working back-breaking jobs and paying more for basic necessities.
The Trump administration's efforts to revive the coal industry, despite its economic and environmental drawbacks, are reminiscent of trying to revive the dead, as some critics have pointed out, referencing the movie "Weekend at Bernies." Trump's insistence on reviving the coal industry, even suggesting using free legal services extorted from Big Law firms to loosen coal pollution laws at the local level, has raised concerns about the long-term impact on the environment and American economy.
[1] Source: White House Press Release, July 17, 2025 [2] Source: White House Press Release, August 7, 2025 [3] Source: Associated Press, August 7, 2025 [4] Source: White House Press Release, April 2025
- The first executive order signed by President Trump in July 2025 provides regulatory relief from stringent EPA emissions standards for coal plants, iron ore processing, and certain chemical manufacturers, aiming to revitalize the US coal industry.
- In August 2025, another executive order was signed, instructing Energy Secretary Chris Wright to invest in next-generation coal technology, expedite coal mining leases and permits on federal lands, and take legal action against state and local regulations hindering coal mining, all with the intention of boosting the US coal industry.
- Gizmodo reports that these executive orders come with financial implications, including potential economic benefits such as preserved jobs, revitalized coal sector, and increased domestic energy production. However, there are concerns about the potential increase in environmental pollution and setbacks to climate goals.
- Trump's efforts to revive the coal industry, as reported by the Associated Press, might face challenges due to the more economically viable options like wind and solar energy, raising questions about the long-term impact on the environment and American economy.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, these executive orders can be seen as part of a broader political narrative that has pockets of support within the tech industry and general news media, sparking debates about the role of politics in shaping energy policies and the future of the US energy landscape.
