Staff and Wire Reports
Apr 9, 2025
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines, all Republicans, are applauding President Donald Trump’s moves bolstering domestic coal production and the coal industry.
Trump has signed four executive orders aimed at boosting coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that’s long been in decline.
Under the orders, Trump will use his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars.
Trump has long promised to boost what he calls “beautiful” coal to fire power plants and for other uses, but the industry has been declining for decades.
In a related action, Trump also signed a proclamation offering coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene.
“I call it beautiful, clean coal. I told my people, never use the word coal unless you put beautiful, clean before it,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony Tuesday where he was flanked by coal miners in hard hats. Several wore patches on their work jackets that said “coal.”
“Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy,” Trump said. “It’s cheap, incredibly efficient, high density, and it’s almost indestructible.”
Trump’s orders also end an Obama-era moratorium that paused coal leasing on federal lands and require federal agencies to rescind policies transitioning the nation away from coal production. And they seek to promote coal and coal technology exports, and accelerate development of coal technologies.
Gianforte and the Montana GOP senators hailed the moves.
The governor, who was at the White House for Tuesday’s ceremony, said in a social statement he was “proud” to stand with Trump “as we unleash American energy and embrace an all of the above approach to drive down costs and power our homes, schools, and businesses.”
Daines also thanks “President Trump for saving Montana coal mines and jobs! It’s time to unleash reliable, affordable energy.”
Environmental groups and progressive states are not happy about Trump’s pro-coal moves.
“Coal plants are old and dirty, uncompetitive and unreliable,” Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Associated Press and Belgrade News staff reports contributed to this story.