In a move that signals a return to energy independence and economic revitalization for the United States, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order this past Tuesday that is aimed at reinvigorating the American coal industry. Surrounded by hard hats and familiar faces—coal miners from across the country—the President delivered a message that folks in towns like ours have been waiting years to hear: “Coal is back!”
What does this mean for us though? The order takes direct aim at reversing years of regulations and restrictions that have put a chokehold on coal production. It directs federal agencies to:
- Resume coal leasing on millions of acres of public lands.
- Fast-track permits for new and existing coal mining operations.
- Protect aging coal plants from forced shutdowns.
- Evaluate coal’s role in supporting America’s growing energy needs, especially with the rise of power-hungry AI data centers.
In other words, the White House is sending a clear message: coal is not just a part of our past—it’s a part of our future too.
For towns built on coal, this executive order truly hits home. Our grandfathers broke their backs to keep the lights on in cities hundreds of miles away. Our families have weathered decades of layoffs, shutdowns, and environmental policies written by people who have never even set foot in a mine.
This is more than policy—it’s a recognition of our work, our sacrifice, and our value to the country.
Some say coal is old news. But as the demand for reliable electricity skyrockets—especially with the rise of AI, data centers, electric vehicles, and other data-driven industries in general—coal is stepping into a new role: the backbone of America’s power grid. It is a fuel packed with the BTU’s to do the heavy-lifting our electric grid demands.
While solar and wind can always be part of the mix, they can’t always deliver steady power. Coal plants provide consistent, round-the-clock electricity—the kind that keeps hospitals, factories, and data centers running 24/7 no matter what the weather looks like.
This order doesn’t just help miners. It helps local diners, gas stations, truck repair shops, and mom-and-pop stores that rely on a strong mining economy. It’s a chance for our kids to stay here, work here, and raise families without having to leave town to find opportunity.
It’s not just about jobs—it’s about hope too.
This isn’t the first time we have heard promises, though. This time, the machinery is already in motion. Mines are re-opening. Regulations are being rolled back, and the demand for domestic all-American energy is rising fast.
There will still be challenges ahead—political pushback, environmental debate, market competition—but for the first time in a long time, rural coal country is not being ignored.
Whether you’re deep underground or working topside, you know coal mining is more than a job—it’s a way of life. Thanks to this new executive order, it is a way of life that’s getting the respect it finally deserves.
So here’s to the men and women who get up before sunrise, lace up their boots, and do the work most folks wouldn’t dare to do.
Coal is power. Coal is pride. And coal is back!