On April 8, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. coal industry, marking a significant shift in the nation's energy policy. These directives include extending the operation of aging coal-fired power plants, lifting federal mining restrictions, and providing a two-year exemption from emissions regulations for coal plants. Additionally, the orders establish the National Energy Dominance Council to oversee energy production and regulatory rollbacks. The administration cites the growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as a key reason for these measures.

The U.S. coal industry has experienced a significant decline over the past two decades. Coal's share of U.S. electricity generation has decreased from over 50% in the early 2000s to approximately 16% by 2025. This decline is attributed to the rise of natural gas and renewable energy sources, which have become more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

President Trump's executive orders encompass several key actions:

• Extending Operation of Aging Coal-Fired Power Plants: The orders prevent the scheduled shutdown of older coal plants, allowing them to continue operations beyond their planned retirement dates.

• Lifting Federal Mining Restrictions: The administration has removed barriers to coal mining on federal lands, facilitating increased extraction activities.

• Two-Year Exemption from Emissions Regulations: Coal plants are granted a temporary exemption from certain emissions standards, ostensibly to reduce operational costs and encourage continued use.

• Establishment of the National Energy Dominance Council: This council is tasked with overseeing energy production and implementing regulatory rollbacks to promote traditional energy sources.

The National Energy Dominance Council, established by President Trump, is chaired by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and vice-chaired by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The council's mandate includes advising the President on strategies to achieve energy dominance by improving processes related to permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation across all forms of American energy. It aims to cut red tape, enhance private sector investments, and advance innovation.

The administration cites the growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as a primary justification for these measures. AI applications, particularly data centers, require substantial energy resources, leading to increased electricity consumption. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized coal's potential to meet these energy needs, stating that keeping coal plants operational is necessary to support the rising demand from AI technologies.

Environmental groups have criticized the executive orders, arguing that they favor outdated and polluting energy sources over cleaner alternatives. Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated, "Coal plants are old and dirty, uncompetitive and unreliable." Critics warn that these policies could raise energy costs and fail to reverse coal’s long-term decline due to market forces and environmental concerns.

This is not the first time the Trump administration has attempted to bolster the coal industry. During his first term, President Trump signed executive orders aimed at rolling back environmental regulations and promoting coal use. However, these efforts faced legal challenges and did not significantly reverse the industry's decline. The current measures differ by invoking emergency powers and establishing a dedicated council to oversee energy dominance strategies.

These developments mark a significant policy shift with far-reaching implications for the U.S. energy landscape, environmental policy, and the economy.