Trump signs executive orders boosting coal industry

WASHINGTON (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders Tuesday aimed at reviving the coal industry, with direct implications for coal-producing states like Kentucky.

Surrounded by a group of coal miners at the White House, Trump signed four orders that direct federal agencies to eliminate what his administration calls “discriminatory policies” against coal. The orders mark a significant shift from previous energy policy under the Biden administration.

One of the executive orders eliminates a restriction that prohibited new coal projects on federal land. Another seeks to protect existing coal-fired power plants and potentially reopen recently closed ones.

“All those plants that have been closed are gonna be opened if they’re modern enough, or they’ll be ripped down and brand new ones will be built,” Trump said during the signing. “We’re going to put the miners back to work.”

Trump also directed the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether any state-level policies unfairly discriminate against coal, further emphasizing his push to reestablish coal’s prominence in the national energy portfolio.

The move was quickly praised by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman. In a statement posted on Facebook, Coleman applauded the president’s actions:

“For generations, coal has powered Kentucky to prosperity. And after enduring years of assaults on our coal workers and their families, I’m grateful to have President Trump as an ally in the White House to support our Commonwealth’s reliable and affordable energy.”

According to Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet, coal currently accounts for 68 percent of the state’s electricity generation, making it the state’s primary energy source.

However, the executive orders come amid continued concerns from environmental and public health advocates. A recent study published in the journal Science found that air pollution from coal-fired plants carries a higher mortality risk than pollution from other energy sources.