President Donald Trump has made a revived American coal industry one of the first major energy priorities of his second term.

On April 8, the president signed an executive order aimed at reinvigorating domestic coal production and rolling back environmental regulations implemented during the previous administration.

The executive action includes immediate exemptions for nearly 70 coal-fired power plants from a series of Biden-era pollution rules, which the Trump administration says had contributed to higher utility costs and growing concerns about grid reliability.

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“The integrity and expansion of our Nation’s energy infrastructure is an immediate and pressing priority for the protection of the United States’ national and economic security,” President Trump said, declaring a national energy emergency shortly after returning to the White House.

The White House says the new directive will increase the nation’s base power capacity and help ensure that energy remains affordable and reliable as demand continues to rise.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright reinforced the administration’s position, stating on April 9, “The American people need more energy, and the Department of Energy is helping to meet this demand by unleashing supply of affordable, reliable, secure energy sources – including coal.”

“Coal is essential for generating 24/7 electricity,” Wright added.

“But misguided policies from previous administrations have stifled this critical American industry. With President Trump’s leadership, we are cutting the red tape and bringing back common sense.”

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Despite the U.S. Energy Information Administration reporting that coal use declined to record lows in 2023, coal remains a major source of energy for dozens of states.

In 2021, coal was the leading electricity source in 15 states. According to America’s Power, 40 states still depend on coal to some extent.

Amy Cooke, co-founder of Always on Energy Research, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that demand for reliable power will only increase as the country moves into a period of rising consumption and potential instability.

“The beauty of coal is that it allows for affordable, reliable power, which is absolutely crucial to economic prosperity, and in particular, innovation,” Cooke said.

Cooke also warned of the risks of eliminating coal from the national energy mix, citing projections from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) that suggest rolling blackouts could begin as early as 2028 due to insufficient baseload capacity.

“We looked at it and predict that there will be periods of blackouts of 24 hours or more,” she said.

Energy policy experts argue that renewable sources like wind and solar, while valuable, cannot yet support full national demand without backup from baseload sources like coal and nuclear.

“You’re forcing retirement of full-time energy sources and trying to replace them with part-time energy sources, and that’s not going to work,” said André Béliveau, Senior Manager of Energy Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation.

David Blackmon, a former oil and gas executive and current energy policy writer, also expressed support for the administration’s plan.

“I really anticipate a revival in the coal industry in the United States under Trump,” Blackmon said, citing the rollback of federal restrictions as a critical move.

He argued that Joe Biden’s climate legislation had made it “near impossible” to build or maintain coal infrastructure.

At an April 8 press conference, President Trump spoke directly to coal miners, describing them as “really well-deserving and great American patriots.”

He added, “Miners can wake up today for the first time in a decade and their spouses and families will realize they have a job tomorrow.”

Reporter Bob Aaron, covering the event, said in a segment shared on X, “They can hear a president of the country announce that the war on coal is over.”

Seen on television in WV after @POTUS signed an Executive Order revitalizing the coal industry: “Miners can wake up today for the first time in a decade and their spouses and families will realize they have a job tomorrow… and hear a president of the country announce that the… pic.twitter.com/DNdcYiVvF6

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 14, 2025

While some critics have questioned the long-term viability of coal due to global climate trends and past investment losses, proponents argue that energy stability and national security concerns now outweigh those considerations.

“The cheapest, the most affordable thing to do is to keep our current infrastructure online,” Béliveau said.

“Coal remains one of, if not the most affordable energy source we have.”

The White House directed inquiries to a fact sheet summarizing the April 8 executive order.

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