President Trump is set to sign an executive order aimed at revitalizing coal production, easing environmental regulations, and designating coal as a critical mineral to facilitate mining operations, despite coal's track record as a leading pollutant contributing to global warming.**
Trump Revives Coal Industry with New Executive Order**
Trump Revives Coal Industry with New Executive Order**
The Trump Administration announces plans to boost coal production and use amid significant declines in the industry over recent decades.**
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President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that seeks to boost the embattled coal industry in the United States, which has faced a stark decline over the past two decades. This directive, slated for Tuesday, will prompt federal agencies to eliminate hindrances to coal leasing, streamline environmental assessments for coal projects, and verify the role of coal in powering new A.I. data centers, as stated by a White House official.
The proposed measures include declaring coal a critical mineral, which is expected to expedite the federal approval process for new mining operations. Furthermore, federal lands will be opened up for increased coal mining, allowing enhanced access to domestic coal resources.
In recent meetings and appearances, President Trump, along with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, has emphasized coal's significance, claiming, "We have clean, beautiful coal, more than anybody else," during a gathering with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office.
Coal power, however, is known to be one of the most polluting fossil fuels, responsible for approximately 40% of the world's industrial carbon dioxide emissions, a primary driver of climate change. Its combustion generates other harmful pollutants that contribute to severe health issues, such as heart diseases and respiratory problems.
The reduction in coal usage over the past two decades has been principally attributed to the shift of utility providers towards cheaper and cleaner alternatives like natural gas, wind, and solar energy. This transition has played a significant role in the decrease of U.S. emissions since 2005. As a result, the coal sector is witnessing numerous plant retirements, with projections indicating that nearly half of the remaining coal capacity may also be shuttered soon.
As Trump advances his campaign to revive coal, concerns abound regarding the environmental and health implications of such policies. The efficacy of these measures in reversing coal's decline remains uncertain as the world moves towards more sustainable energy sources.
President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that seeks to boost the embattled coal industry in the United States, which has faced a stark decline over the past two decades. This directive, slated for Tuesday, will prompt federal agencies to eliminate hindrances to coal leasing, streamline environmental assessments for coal projects, and verify the role of coal in powering new A.I. data centers, as stated by a White House official.
The proposed measures include declaring coal a critical mineral, which is expected to expedite the federal approval process for new mining operations. Furthermore, federal lands will be opened up for increased coal mining, allowing enhanced access to domestic coal resources.
In recent meetings and appearances, President Trump, along with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, has emphasized coal's significance, claiming, "We have clean, beautiful coal, more than anybody else," during a gathering with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office.
Coal power, however, is known to be one of the most polluting fossil fuels, responsible for approximately 40% of the world's industrial carbon dioxide emissions, a primary driver of climate change. Its combustion generates other harmful pollutants that contribute to severe health issues, such as heart diseases and respiratory problems.
The reduction in coal usage over the past two decades has been principally attributed to the shift of utility providers towards cheaper and cleaner alternatives like natural gas, wind, and solar energy. This transition has played a significant role in the decrease of U.S. emissions since 2005. As a result, the coal sector is witnessing numerous plant retirements, with projections indicating that nearly half of the remaining coal capacity may also be shuttered soon.
As Trump advances his campaign to revive coal, concerns abound regarding the environmental and health implications of such policies. The efficacy of these measures in reversing coal's decline remains uncertain as the world moves towards more sustainable energy sources.
