WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wyoming’s congressional delegation Tuesday basked in the glow of a White House ceremony where President Donald Trump signed four executive orders aimed at reversing a nearly decade-long decline of coal. It’s potentially a watershed moment to boost the economy of the nation’s No. 1 coal state.
“We’re bringing back an industry that was abandoned,” Trump said from the podium at the large ceremony with a host of invited coal miners, referring several times to “beautiful, clean coal.”
The first lawmaker recognized by Trump was U.S. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming. U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, was second, followed by several other senators. Moving on to House members, Trump recognized U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming.
Trump called Lummis a “fantastic woman,” saying that, “She believes like I do.”
The president also had high praise for Hageman, calling her “one of the finest attorneys you’ll ever see.”
“I’ve seen her in action, and she is brutal,” Trump said.
Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon was also on hand for the ceremony, standing next to the president at the podium after the orders were signed.
In a statement shortly after the ceremony, Gordon called it “a great day for Wyoming coal.”
Sweeping Actions
The White House did not immediately release the text of the four executive orders, but an aide summarized them as he handed them to the president.
They were said to include ending “discriminatory” policies against coal companies now facing a leasing moratorium on federal lands; accelerating permitting for mines; staving off closures of coal-fired power plants; and investigating state policies deemed hostile to coal.
In remarks from the podium just prior to signing the orders, Trump said shuttered coal-fired plants would be reopened or, if they could not be salvaged, new ones would be built in their place.
Trump called coal cheap, “incredibly efficient” and virtually indestructible.
“You could drop a bomb on it and it’s there for you to use the next day,” he said.
Powder River Basin
U.S. coal production has been waning for years, a trend Trump attributed to former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. And Wyoming’s mines could see ramped up output under the new orders.
The nation’s two largest coal mines by far are in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, which extends north into Montana. Those are Peabody Energy’s North Antelope Rochelle, and Core Natural Resources’ (formerly Arch Resources) Black Thunder — both south of Gillette. They’re the largest of the PRB’s 12 Wyoming coal mines.
North Antelope Rochelle and Black Thunder each produced more than 60 million tons of coal in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. After those giants, third on the list was another Wyoming mine at 19 million short tons. Wyoming held the top seven spots on the list of the country’s largest mines in 2023.
The state’s roughly 40% share of nation’s total thermal coal output makes West Virginia a distant second at about 15%, according to the Energy Department.
But the industry downturn has been sharp. All of the PRB coal mines in Wyoming produced 185 million tons in 2024 —marking the first time since 1992 that coal production in the basin dropped below 200 million tons, according to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Wyoming’s coal high point was 2008, when the PRB produced a whopping 446.5 million tons.
‘This Is Wyoming Coal’
Hours before the ceremony in the White House — and at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue — Barrasso held up a lump of coal as he spoke on the Senate floor.
“This is Wyoming coal,” Barrasso said. “We need more of it, not less of it, to power our nation.”
“Electricity needed for data centers alone is expected to increase 20 percent each year over the next five years,” Barrasso added. “Coal will help power them. it will give our energy industry an edge, a competitive advantage.”
Citing China, the senator said: “More American energy … means that data centers, artificial intelligence, who are major users of energy, will grow here in America, not overseas. Energy security is national security.”
Lummis, Hageman
Lummis issued a statement to Cowboy State Daily just ahead of the ceremony.
“I am thrilled that President Trump is reversing the failed energy policies of the Biden administration and officially lifting this ridiculous moratorium on federal coal leasing,” she said. “The previous administration's anti-science, anti-energy, anti-Wyoming policies cost good-paying jobs, increased energy costs, and played into the hands of America's adversaries.
“President Trump knows that increased American energy is a strength, not a weakness. As America's leading coal-producing state, Wyoming stands ready and able to support President Trump's initiative to expand and Unleash American Energy.”
Hageman issued a press release saying in part: “Coal is the energy of the future — Wyoming understands that, and so does President Trump.”
Not Everyone Agrees
Congressional Democrats and environmental groups have been playing defense on energy policy since January.
Republicans in Congress — who control both the House and Senate — have been steadily throwing out environmental regulations hanging up fossil fuels. And Trump has now added coal to executive orders promoting oil, gas and timber production as a part of a broad push deregulating those energy industries.
Trump declared an energy emergency on his first day in office, something Senate Democrats recently tried unsuccessfully to reverse. Among other things, the Democrats complained the emergency order discriminated against wind and solar power companies.
The Sierra Club issued a statement Tuesday criticizing the latest development.
“By extending the lifespan of coal-fired power plants that are already scheduled to retire and placing aggressive tariffs on renewable energy, Trump’s policies will raise monthly energy bills for everyday Americans,” the group said.
But Republicans have said electricity bills rose under Biden. They have also said Biden’s electric-vehicle push was straining the grid, and they complained Biden didn’t care about high gasoline and diesel prices because he wanted Americans to ditch combustion-engine cars and trucks in favor of EVs.
‘Impactful’ For Wyoming
Gordon joined other governors of coal-producing states to be close to Trump as he signed the orders, then handed out signing pens to the group of coal miners standing behind him. He then stood next to Trump on the right while taking photos.
He said the orders are great for America, and for Wyoming in particular.
“These executive orders will be impactful for our state’s coal industry and will help ensure Wyoming coal is available to help meet our nation’s growing energy demand,” he said in a statement. “I thank President Trump for his work in freeing our country from the unnecessarily burdensome regulations imposed on the coal industry by the Biden administration.”
Gordon also said that in addition to potentially boosting coal production, the orders will encourage research and advancement in diversifying the coal industry and promoting its export potential.
“While the Eos are a great first step, the real focus must not only be extending the life of coal-fired generating plants nearing retirement, but to actually pave the way to building new power plants,” Gordon said. “These are essential to our future. Wyoming is ready to lead the way and be a partner in that process.”
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
