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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced yesterday that the Trump administration will open more than 13 million acres of national public land to coal leasing, while also lowering the royalty rate that mining companies pay to taxpayers from twelve to seven percent. During his press conference, Burgum cited an AI “arms race” with China as justification for the giveaway.
“Once again, Donald Trump and Doug Burgum are trying to build a bridge to the 19th century,” said Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Rachael Hamby. “There’s no such thing as clean coal. This announcement is just a plan to pollute more and rip off taxpayers while insisting that power companies use a more expensive fuel that they don’t even want.”
Energy experts say that any boost for coal during the Trump administration is likely to be temporary because natural gas is cheaper, and there’s a more stable market for renewable energy. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also announced that the agency would repeal dozens of rules, delay limits on coal ash wastewater discharges from coal plants, and reexamine the Regional Haze program, which governs air quality and pollution from power plants.
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It’s unconscionable for the administration, after overseeing a 24-percent loss of the Park Service, to threaten another cudgeling that could mean thousands of additional Park Service personnel are fired. The Park Service is already struggling to take care of the resource and falling behind as they try to prioritize visitor services.”
