Latest news with #Radicals
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Can President Trump Really Revive U.S. Coal?
It is no secret that Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden did everything in their power to end America's coal industry while they were in office. The 'Clean Power Plan' formally invoked by the Obama EPA in 2015 set off an unprecedented wave of coal plant retirements which continued through the first Donald Trump presidency and into the Biden Administration (see chart below). Altogether, about 40% of the existing U.S. coal fleet in 2010 had been retired by the end of 2024, with more retirements projected in the coming five years. The power source which had provided about 50% of U.S. power generation in 2000 fell to just 15% in 2024. To environmental activists, the systematic deconstruction of America's coal industry was a beautiful thing, a way to meet emissions goals set under the Paris Climate Accords. But officials in this second Trump administration, including the President himself, see it as a waste of an enormously valuable resource given that U.S. coal reserves far exceed those of any other nation on earth. Despite having not seeing much success in reversing this trend during his first term in office, President Trump seems determined to produce real results this time around. Indeed, the reinvigoration of the domestic coal industry has been a topic on the minds of both Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright in recent weeks. In a March 17 post on Truth Social, Trump wrote about the topic, saying, '[a]fter years of being held captive by Environmental Extremists, Lunatics, Radicals, and Thugs, allowing other countries, in particular China, to gain tremendous Economic advantage over us by opening up hundreds of all Coal Fire Power Plants, I am authorizing my Administration to immediately begin producing energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL.' Obviously, there is a great deal of disagreement in today's society with the President's assessment of coal power being either beautiful or clean, but the point is clear: The Trump administration plans to take full advantage of America's unmatched wealth in coal resources. As new power demands from the rapid expansion of datacenters, AI growth, and the anticipated expansion of U.S. manufacturing stemming from the Trump tariffs and other economic policies accelerates, the need for a big expansion in reliable and affordable baseload capacity becomes increasingly urgent. This need is amplified by the rising realization that the power needs of AI datacenters, which must remain online more than 99% of the time, cannot be met by wind and solar combined with stationary batteries. In an interview on Feb. 15, Sec. Wright took a softer tone, saying, "Coal has been essential to the United States' energy system for over 100 years. It's been the largest source of global electricity for nearly 100 years, and it will be for decades to come, so we need to be realistic about that.' Regardless of the tone, the overall theme is clear: This administration is focused on a reinvigoration of America's coal industry. On Tuesday, the President signed a series of executive orders containing administrative actions which he believes will jump start that process. The executive orders signed Tuesday by President Trump include a series of specific directives designed to stimulate more mining of coal, extend the life of existing coal-fired power plants, and study the feasibility of permitting the building of additional coal generation capacity in the future: These actions aim to designate coal as a "mineral" under Trump's prior executive order 14241 from March 2025. That order established a series of actions designed to stimulate domestic production and processing of minerals considered to be 'critical energy minerals' as defined by 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3), as well as uranium, copper, potash, gold, and any other element, compound or material as determined by the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) chaired by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Tuesday's actions specifically direct Sec. Wright to assess whether coal used in steel production qualifies as a "critical material" or "critical mineral." This step ties into Trump's efforts to reshore manufacturing, including heavy industries like steelmaking, to the U.S. in the coming years. Equally impactful is the directive ordering the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to assist agencies in adopting coal-related categorical exclusions under the National Energy Policy Act (NEPA). The environmental impact studies required by NEPA can delay projects related to any form of energy production for years as companies and regulators haggle over minute details and anti-development NGOs seize on any conflicts as fodder for time-consuming lawsuits. The administration argues that coal is essential for energy independence, job creation, and economic competitiveness. Trump claimed during the signing event that U.S. coal reserves are worth "trillions of dollars," far exceeding the value of gold in Fort Knox, and can lower energy costs while supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. The orders also tie coal to national security, particularly in powering AI data centers, where rivals like China rely heavily on coal-based electricity. Interestingly the immediate market reaction was positive, with shares of coal producers like Peabody Energy and Core Natural Resources rising about 9% each after the announcement. But the feasibility and broader implications of this effort to expand the use of coal in U.S. society is certain to become the subject of intense debate, given market realities, environmental stakes, and a rapidly shifting energy landscape.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump vows to immediately ramp up U.S. production of 'beautiful, clean coal'
President Trump this week continued to make his environmental priorities clear by vowing to open up hundreds of coal power plants in the United States in an effort to advance competition against China. "After years of being held captive by Environmental Extremists, Lunatics, Radicals, and Thugs, allowing other Countries, in particular China, to gain tremendous Economic advantage over us by opening up hundreds of all Coal Fire Power Plants, I am authorizing my Administration to immediately begin producing Energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL," Trump wrote in a post on social media Monday. Though the post was not linked to any particular policy plans or documents, it arrives as the White House takes aim at various environmental agencies and clean-energy initiatives. In the last week alone, the administration has announced plans to significantly roll back regulations that govern coal production and to potentially lay off up to 65% of scientists and researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency, among other actions. Coal accounts for about 16% of the country's electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration — down from about 50% in 2000 as natural gas and nuclear and renewable energy have grown. Though relatively inexpensive to produce, coal is considered the dirtiest fossil fuel and comes with considerable environmental costs, including the release of particulate air pollution and nearly twice the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide as natural gas. Read more: How the EPA's environmental about-face could upend California's climate efforts Among the coal-related items up for reconsideration by the EPA are its Mercury and Air Toxic Standards — regulations that limit emissions from the nation's largest plants that burn coal and oil to heat water, which produces steam and in turn generates electricity. The standards have "achieved significant health and environmental benefits by reducing a broad range of hazardous air pollutants," according to the EPA's website. But the agency now says that the standards "improperly targeted coal-fired power plants" and should be revisited. "EPA needs to pursue commonsense regulation to Power the Great American Comeback, not continue down the last administration's path of destruction and destitution," the agency's top administrator, Lee Zeldin, said in a statement last week. "At EPA, we are committed to protecting human health and the environment; we are opposed to shutting down clean, affordable and reliable energy for American families." Zeldin said the standards put in place by the Biden administration would cost the EPA more than $790 million between 2028 and 2038. As his EPA challenges these standards, Zeldin said, his agency is considering a two-year compliance exemption for affected power plants as it goes through the rule-making process. The nation's top environmental agency last week also announced a review of regulations that govern the disposal of coal ash — the byproduct of burning coal in power plants. The EPA hopes to prioritize a coal ash program that would expedite permit reviews and put coal ash regulations more fully into state hands, Zeldin said. The agency will similarly review rules that extend federal coal ash regulations to unregulated areas where coal ash is managed, such as inactive power plants. Zeldin said the agency's impending changes will bolster the United States' position as an energy leader and help save money for millions of Americans. "President Trump has delivered on his promise to unleash energy dominance and lower the cost of living," he said. "We at EPA will do our part to power the great American comeback." Read more: Musk team targets nearly two dozen environmental offices for closure in California These proposed changes, along with the president's social media post, underscore a considerable shift away from the clean energy initiatives of the Biden administration, including its push for green infrastructure and electric vehicles. The U.S. had been on track to close half of its coal-fired generation capacity by 2026, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Bloomberg News last week that the administration is now looking for ways to revive coal plants that have closed, and to prevent others from shutting down. Burgum and other officials have said keeping the plants online can help lower energy costs for U.S. consumers, among other benefits. Burgum also told Bloomberg that the administration wants to undo the Biden administration's "attack on U.S. energy" by cutting through red tape and empowering the nation to compete in an AI arms race against China. AI data centers require immense amounts of energy, which can come from coal or other sources. Read more: Despite diplomatic tension, Newsom is going to China to promote cooperation on climate change Trump's social media post suggests the renewed focus on coal is part of a power play against China, which relies heavily on cheap coal power for its manufacturing sector and economic expansion. About 60% of China's power comes from coal, which has resulted in some of the worst levels of air pollution and particulate matter in the world. That said, though China continues to rely heavily on coal, it has also begun investing in solar and wind power. The U.S., it seems, may be heading in the opposite direction. Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to China to help promote global cooperation on climate change and model California policies on clean energy and pollution reduction. In the last week, the Trump administration has suggested that a key tenet in the scientific understanding of fossil fuels — that greenhouse gases, a primary byproduct of burning coal, are harmful to human health and the environment — could be reconsidered. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
19-03-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Trump vows to immediately ramp up U.S. production of ‘beautiful, clean coal'
President Trump this week continued to make his environmental priorities clear by vowing to open up hundreds of coal power plants in the United States in an effort to advance competition against China. 'After years of being held captive by Environmental Extremists, Lunatics, Radicals, and Thugs, allowing other Countries, in particular China, to gain tremendous Economic advantage over us by opening up hundreds of all Coal Fire Power Plants, I am authorizing my Administration to immediately begin producing Energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL,' Trump wrote in a post on social media Monday. Though the post was not linked to any particular policy plans or documents, it arrives as the White House takes aim at various environmental agencies and clean-energy initiatives. In the last week alone, the administration has announced plans to significantly roll back regulations that govern coal production and to potentially lay off up to 65% of scientists and researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency, among other actions. Coal accounts for about 16% of the country's electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration — down from about 50% in 2000 as natural gas and nuclear and renewable energy have grown. Though relatively inexpensive to produce, coal is considered the dirtiest fossil fuel and comes with considerable environmental costs, including the release of particulate air pollution and nearly twice the amount of planet-warming carbon dioxide as natural gas. Among the coal-related items up for reconsideration by the EPA are its Mercury and Air Toxic Standards — regulations that limit emissions from the nation's largest plants that burn coal and oil to heat water, which produces steam and in turn generates electricity. The standards have 'achieved significant health and environmental benefits by reducing a broad range of hazardous air pollutants,' according to the EPA's website. But the agency now says that the standards 'improperly targeted coal-fired power plants' and should be revisited. 'EPA needs to pursue commonsense regulation to Power the Great American Comeback, not continue down the last administration's path of destruction and destitution,' the agency's top administrator, Lee Zeldin, said in a statement last week. 'At EPA, we are committed to protecting human health and the environment; we are opposed to shutting down clean, affordable and reliable energy for American families.' Zeldin said the standards put in place by the Biden administration would cost the EPA more than $790 million between 2028 and 2038. As his EPA challenges these standards, Zeldin said, his agency is considering a two-year compliance exemption for affected power plants as it goes through the rule-making process. The nation's top environmental agency last week also announced a review of regulations that govern the disposal of coal ash — the byproduct of burning coal in power plants. The EPA hopes to prioritize a coal ash program that would expedite permit reviews and put coal ash regulations more fully into state hands, Zeldin said. The agency will similarly review rules that extend federal coal ash regulations to unregulated areas where coal ash is managed, such as inactive power plants. Zeldin said the agency's impending changes will bolster the United States' position as an energy leader and help save money for millions of Americans. 'President Trump has delivered on his promise to unleash energy dominance and lower the cost of living,' he said. 'We at EPA will do our part to power the great American comeback.' These proposed changes, along with the president's social media post, underscore a considerable shift away from the clean energy initiatives of the Biden administration, including its push for green infrastructure and electric vehicles. The U.S. had been on track to close half of its coal-fired generation capacity by 2026, according to a report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Bloomberg News last week that the administration is now looking for ways to revive coal plants that have closed, and to prevent others from shutting down. Burgum and other officials have said keeping the plants online can help lower energy costs for U.S. consumers, among other benefits. Burgum also told Bloomberg that the administration wants to undo the Biden administration's 'attack on U.S. energy' by cutting through red tape and empowering the nation to compete in an AI arms race against China. AI data centers require immense amounts of energy, which can come from coal or other sources. Trump's social media post suggests the renewed focus on coal is part of a power play against China, which relies heavily on cheap coal power for its manufacturing sector and economic expansion. About 60% of China's power comes from coal, which has resulted in some of the worst levels of air pollution and particulate matter in the world. That said, though China continues to rely heavily on coal, it has also begun investing in solar and wind power. The U.S., it seems, may be heading in the opposite direction. Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to China to help promote global cooperation on climate change and model California policies on clean energy and pollution reduction. In the last week, the Trump administration has suggested that a key tenet in the scientific understanding of fossil fuels — that greenhouse gases, a primary byproduct of burning coal, are harmful to human health and the environment — could be reconsidered.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump vows to open hundreds of coal plants to counter China
Donald Trump has pledged to reverse America's anti-fossil fuel policy and open hundreds more coal-fired power plants in an effort to make US industry more competitive with China. He wants to halt the closures of coal plants – the 'dirtiest' form of power generation – driven by environmental regulations, that have shut down hundreds of power stations and which threaten 120 more. The demand for closures was led by environmental groups because coal is the most polluting of fossil fuels, generating twice as much CO2 per unit of energy when compared with gas, and pouring other toxins into the air such as soot and mercury. However in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump's social media platform, he criticised environmentalists for such criticisms and pledged to reverse the shut downs. 'After years of being held captive by Environmental Extremists, Lunatics, Radicals, and Thugs, allowing other Countries, in particular China, to gain tremendous Economic advantage over us by opening up hundreds of all Coal Fire Power Plants, I am authorising my Administration to immediately begin producing Energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL,' he wrote. His policy contrasts with the UK, which last year shut down its last coal fired power station, with Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, banning all new fossil fuel extraction and accelerating the shift to renewables. Such policies are being increasingly challenged, with Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, warning that Mr Miliband's net zero policy is 'impossible'. America has about 560 coal mines that collectively produced 580m tonnes of coal in 2023 and employed 45,000 people. More than 90pc of US-consumed coal is used to generate power so the looming power station closures would threaten tens of thousands of mining jobs – thought to be one of Mr Trump's key concerns. Some of his strongest backing comes from coal-producing states such as Wyoming, which produces about 40pc of US coal output. Doug Burgum, the US interior secretary, last week said the administration was considering using emergency powers to bring back coal-fired plants that have closed and stop others from shutting. Separately, Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, said earlier this month the administration was working on a 'market-based' plan to stem the closing of US coal-fired power plants. Last week Lee Zeldin, head of America's Environmental Protection Agency, announced the 'biggest deregulatory action in US history to power the Great American Comeback'. He said this would include: 'Reconsideration of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that improperly targeted coal-fired power plants.' America's Power, an industry trade group, has pushed for such moves. It says that coal-fired power is 'the foundation of the American electricity grid' and 'provides consistent, dispatchable, secure power on a 24/7 basis. It is critical to maintaining affordable electricity prices, and a reliable and resilient electricity grid.' It also argues that maintaining coal-fired power will be essential for the US to generate the power needed for the burgeoning data centre industry. However, reversing the long-term decline in US coal consumption will be a struggle – in 2023 US coal use was down to 426m tonnes compared with 1bn tonnes in 2000. It means US coal consumption is already far below that of China, which burns 5bn tonnes of coal a year – 12 times as much as America. This week Mr Miliband is in China, the world's greatest coal consumer, asking its leaders to phase the fuel out. A spokesman from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'The UK will also share expertise on phasing out coal, having closed its last coal-fired power station last year.' However, Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, has already made clear he has no scruples over increased use of coal. Figures released last month show that, in a bid to meet soaring electricity demand, the Chinese premier is overseeing plans to burn more coal than ever before – increasing the country's annual usage by an extra 75m tonnes. Commodity reporting agency Argus reported that in 2024, China's coal consumption rose by about 6pc to a record 4.9bn tonnes, accounting for 56pc of the world's global total. This meant China burnt more than 300m tonnes of extra coal in 2024. Last month, the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association predicted that coal demand would consistently rise by 1pc to 2pc a year for the foreseeable future. The planned increase in coal production will mean China remains the world's biggest source of greenhouse gases, emitting the equivalent of 15bn tonnes of CO2 a year – almost a quarter of the world's total. Much of that increase is to fuel China's manufacturing industries, making products for export to Western countries such as the UK and US. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
18-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Trump vows to open hundreds of coal plants to counter China
Donald Trump has pledged to reverse America's anti-fossil fuel policy and open hundreds more coal-fired power plants in an effort to make US industry more competitive with China. He wants to halt the closures of coal plants – the 'dirtiest' form of power generation – driven by environmental regulations, that have shut down hundreds of power stations and which threaten 120 more. The demand for closures was led by environmental groups because coal is the most polluting of fossil fuels, generating twice as much CO2 per unit of energy when compared with gas, and pouring other toxins into the air such as soot and mercury. However in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump's social media platform, he criticised environmentalists for such criticisms and pledged to reverse the shut downs. 'After years of being held captive by Environmental Extremists, Lunatics, Radicals, and Thugs, allowing other Countries, in particular China, to gain tremendous Economic advantage over us by opening up hundreds of all Coal Fire Power Plants, I am authorising my Administration to immediately begin producing Energy with BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL,' he wrote. His policy contrasts with the UK, which last year shut down its last coal fired power station, with Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, banning all new fossil fuel extraction and accelerating the shift to renewables. Such policies are being increasingly challenged, with Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, warning that Mr Miliband's net zero policy is 'impossible'. America has about 560 coal mines that collectively produced 580m tonnes of coal in 2023 and employed 45,000 people. More than 90pc of US-consumed coal is used to generate power so the looming power station closures would threaten tens of thousands of mining jobs – thought to be one of Mr Trump's key concerns. Some of his strongest backing comes from coal-producing states such as Wyoming, which produces about 40pc of US coal output. Doug Burgum, the US interior secretary, last week said the administration was considering using emergency powers to bring back coal-fired plants that have closed and stop others from shutting. Separately, Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, said earlier this month the administration was working on a 'market-based' plan to stem the closing of US coal-fired power plants. Last week Lee Zeldin, head of America's Environmental Protection Agency, announced the 'biggest deregulatory action in US history to power the Great American Comeback'. He said this would include: 'Reconsideration of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that improperly targeted coal-fired power plants.' America's Power, an industry trade group, has pushed for such moves. It says that coal-fired power is 'the foundation of the American electricity grid' and 'provides consistent, dispatchable, secure power on a 24/7 basis. It is critical to maintaining affordable electricity prices, and a reliable and resilient electricity grid.' It also argues that maintaining coal-fired power will be essential for the US to generate the power needed for the burgeoning data centre industry. However, reversing the long-term decline in US coal consumption will be a struggle – in 2023 US coal use was down to 426m tonnes compared with 1bn tonnes in 2000. It means US coal consumption is already far below that of China, which burns 5bn tonnes of coal a year – 12 times as much as America. This week Mr Miliband is in China, the world's greatest coal consumer, asking its leaders to phase the fuel out. A spokesman from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'The UK will also share expertise on phasing out coal, having closed its last coal-fired power station last year.' However, Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, has already made clear he has no scruples over increased use of coal. Figures released last month show that, in a bid to meet soaring electricity demand, the Chinese premier is overseeing plans to burn more coal than ever before – increasing the country's annual usage by an extra 75m tonnes. Commodity reporting agency Argus reported that in 2024, China's coal consumption rose by about 6pc to a record 4.9bn tonnes, accounting for 56pc of the world's global total. This meant China burnt more than 300m tonnes of extra coal in 2024. Last month, the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association predicted that coal demand would consistently rise by 1pc to 2pc a year for the foreseeable future. The planned increase in coal production will mean China remains the world's biggest source of greenhouse gases, emitting the equivalent of 15bn tonnes of CO2 a year – almost a quarter of the world's total.
