In a rare and welcome moment of clarity, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has taken meaningful action to reassert coal’s rightful place in America’s energy mix.
On June 11, the Committee released its portion of the Senate reconciliation bill — a package of commonsense reforms that, if enacted, will restore predictability, fairness, and opportunity to an industry that has long been the backbone of American energy.
These provisions do more than boost coal — they boost energy security, economic stability, and the communities that keep the lights on.
After more than a decade of regulatory whiplash and political scapegoating, this legislation offers what coal has always asked for: a level playing field.
No handouts. Just a government that honors its commitments and clears the path for responsible production of America’s most abundant domestic energy resource.
Let’s look at what’s at stake.
Several key provisions in the bill directly address the structural barriers that have strangled coal leasing and production on federal lands.
- Section 0202 requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to take timely action on lease applications. That’s basic good governance — but it’s also a lifeline to companies stuck in bureaucratic limbo.
- Section 0203 places a 7% cap on federal coal royalty rates through 2034. This restores predictability in project planning and eliminates the threat of sudden cost spikes driven by anti-coal political agendas.
- Section 0204 mandates lease sales on 4 million acres of federal lands with known coal reserves — cutting through the tangle of anti-leasing Resource Management Plans (RMPs) without requiring years of legal battles.
- Section 0205 unblocks development in the Bull Mountain region by resolving the absurd “checkerboard” leasing gridlock caused by overlapping state, private, and federal tracts.
This is smart, targeted policymaking. It doesn’t rewrite environmental laws or dismantle safety standards. It simply says: if coal can be mined responsibly, then let’s get to work.
The American people have been sold a false narrative of energy “transition.” A narrative that suggests we can power a modern economy with intermittent energy, dependent on foreign supply chains, and subsidized by taxpayers.
That vision is failing — and Americans know it. Energy prices are rising. Grid reliability is declining. And our nation’s manufacturing competitiveness is under threat.
Coal, on the other hand, offers what no renewable source can: on-demand, around-the-clock, baseload power.
It doesn’t depend on weather, time of day, or geopolitical whim. It’s mined, processed, and used right here in the United States — often within the same region — supporting local jobs, local schools, and local economies.
In 2024, coal still generated nearly 17% of America’s electricity, despite relentless opposition. That share is even higher in energy-intensive and rural regions that rely on affordable, dispatchable power.
We ignore this reality at our peril.
Coal remains one of the most cost-effective fuels in the U.S. power market when considering both reliability and existing infrastructure.
Unlike wind and solar, which require massive transmission upgrades, battery storage, and foreign-sourced minerals, coal plants are already paid for and fully integrated into our grid.
Moreover, the coal sector directly supports over 150,000 American jobs — many of them high-paying union positions — and indirectly sustains millions more. These jobs are concentrated in communities where few economic alternatives exist. When coal goes, whole counties collapse.
The Senate’s reconciliation bill doesn’t just protect these jobs—it invites new investment by restoring legal and economic certainty.
Coal is more than an energy asset. It is a strategic reserve.
As we’ve seen in recent global conflicts and supply chain disruptions, relying on imported energy technologies is a dangerous gamble. China dominates the rare earth and battery material markets. Russia remains a major energy exporter. Both are geopolitical competitors.
Coal is mined here. It’s stored here. It’s burned here. And it’s controlled here.
Every ton of American coal produced is a ton of strategic energy independence. It strengthens our grid, stabilizes our markets, and reduces our exposure to foreign influence.
To senators from coal-producing, and coal consuming states: this is your moment to lead.
These provisions represent the most significant federal support for coal in a generation. Don’t let them die in parliamentary obscurity or partisan horse-trading.
To the senate parliamentarian: apply the Byrd Rule with fairness and clarity. These are revenue-generating, budget-relevant provisions that directly impact federal leases and royalties.
And to every Member of Congress who enjoys reliable electricity back home: remember that many of your constituents rely on coal-fired power to live, work, and thrive. Supporting this bill is not just smart policy — it’s basic gratitude.
Coal has never asked for special treatment. It has simply asked to compete. And when allowed to compete, coal delivers — on reliability, on cost, and on national interest.
The senate reconciliation bill offers a long-overdue course correction. It prioritizes energy made in America, by Americans, for Americans. It revives coal as a tool of national prosperity — not a target of political theater.
We urge the senate to pass this legislation, intact and unweakened. We urge the House to follow suit. And we urge the American public to recognize coal not as a relic, but as a resource that still fuels our lives.
Let’s build an energy policy grounded in reality — not ideology. Coal’s moment to lead again is here.
Let’s not waste it.
Emily Arthun is the president and CEO of the American Council Council
