Trump to sign decrees to stimulate coal energy

By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump is expected to sign decrees on Tuesday to stimulate coal, a reliable but polluting source of energy that has long been in decline.

According to two senior White House officials, Trump will use his emergency authority to allow older coal power plants to retreat retirement to continue to produce electricity to meet the demand for American power in terms of data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars. The officials spoke under the cover of anonymity because they were not allowed to discuss the question before the president’s announcement, expected on Tuesday afternoon.

Trump, a republican, has long promised to stimulate what he calls “beautiful” coal to draw power plants and for other uses, but the industry has been declining for decades.

The orders expected Tuesday will order the federal agencies to identify the resources of coal on federal lands, to raise obstacles to the extraction of coal and to prioritize the rental of coal on American lands, according to information from managers of the White House.

The ordinances will also order the interior secretary Doug Burgum to “recognize the end” of an Obama era moratorium who has interrupted coal rental on federal land and requires that federal agencies cancel the policies in transition from the coal production nation.

Orders also seek to promote exports of coal and coal technologies and accelerate the development of coal technologies.

Trump has long suggested that coal can help meet the demand for electricity in manufacturing and massive data centers necessary for artificial intelligence.

“Nothing can destroy coal. Not the weather, not a bomb – nothing,” Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by Video Link in January. “And we have more coal than anyone.”

Energy experts say that any bump for charcoal under Trump is probably temporary because natural gas is cheaper and there is a durable market for renewable energies such as wind and solar energy, whatever the White House.

Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.

Originally published: April 8, 2025 at 7:59 a.m.