Trump Pushes ‘Mine, Baby, Mine’ With $625M Coal Investment
A heavy machinery operator is seen moving coal at Signal Peak Energy's Bull Mountains Mine, on May 21, 2025, near Roundup, Montana. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
The White House on Monday announced a sweeping package aimed at revitalizing America’s coal industry, underscoring President Trump’s commitment to boosting domestic energy production.
The plan includes $625 million in federal funding to modernize aging coal plants, a move officials say will help keep facilities open that were otherwise slated for closure. More than 13 million acres of public land are being opened for mining, paired with lower royalty fees for coal companies.
The Environmental Protection Agency also rolled back regulations imposed during the Biden administration that restricted pollution from coal-fired plants. Those included limits on carbon dioxide, mercury, and wastewater.
“In addition to drill, baby, drill, we need to mine, baby, mine,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declared at a press event alongside coal miners. Officials avoided using the phrase “climate change,” instead blaming previous regulations for what they described as an “ideological war on coal.”
The administration emphasized that growing energy demand—particularly from artificial intelligence and data centers—makes coal a crucial part of America’s energy mix.
Key industry figures highlight the challenge ahead:
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Coal produced 15% of U.S. electricity in 2024, down from 50% in 2000.
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The coal workforce has dropped from 70,000 to 40,000 in just a decade.
Environmental groups like the Sierra Club blasted the policy shift, warning it will drive up energy costs and worsen pollution. But global demand for coal remains strong, with worldwide use hitting record highs last year, led by China.
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