Trump Signs Orders to Revive Coal Industry, Targeting AI Energy Demand
The executive orders aim to extend coal plant operations, ease mining restrictions, and position coal as a critical resource for powering AI data centers.
- President Trump signed executive orders on April 8, 2025, to bolster the U.S. coal industry by rolling back environmental regulations and promoting coal mining on federal lands.
- The orders invoke emergency authority to keep aging coal-fired power plants operational, addressing rising electricity demands driven by AI data centers and manufacturing growth.
- Coal has been designated as a critical mineral, expediting mining permits and prioritizing leasing on federal lands to enhance domestic energy production.
- The administration has repealed Obama- and Biden-era policies transitioning away from coal, while directing federal agencies to promote coal exports and new technology development.
- Experts remain skeptical of a coal resurgence, citing economic challenges from cheaper natural gas and renewables, as well as declining market demand for coal energy.
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