FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2025
Media Contact: Lisa DePaoli, lisa@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org, 412-229-7116
Despite Executive Order, Coal isn’t coming back
Washington, PA – After rolling back regulations on carbon, mercury, and toxic air pollution at coal-fired power plants, opening up federal land to coal mining, and gutting the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), President Trump on Tuesday signed an Executive Order which he claims will boost America’s “beautiful clean coal industry.”
The Trump administration made similar promises during his first term but instead oversaw the retirement of nearly 100 coal plants during the four years he was in office. That number has only grown as more cheap, clean renewable energy comes online; in 2024, solar and wind power generated more U.S. electricity than coal for the first time. This region has already lost more than 33,000 coal jobs since 2011, and Trump’s previous promise to bring back coal caused former miners to reject retraining opportunities. This delay of the needed transition will only cause continued harm to our communities.
Coal isn’t clean: it never has been and never will be and the very idea is an affront to climate, environmental, and economic justice. Between health impacts to workers and communities, property damage to homeowners and public lands, threats to climate and ecosystems, and the simple realities of supply and demand, it has never been more clear that coal is no longer a viable source of energy, jobs, or long-term prosperity for our region.
“President Trump’s actions won’t change the reality that the energy landscape is changing rapidly, but his Executive Order may delay the inevitable just long enough to enrich his tech-bro friends by funneling coal into AI data centers with less oversight at the expense of communities like ours,” said Sarah Martik, CCJ’s Executive Director.
The Center for Coalfield Justice, along with its members and supporters, will continue to fight for the future of all of the residents of southwestern Pennsylvania, toward better public and environmental health and thriving economies.