The Trump administration has initiated steps to reopen millions of acres of public land for coal mining in the Powder River Basin, the largest coal deposit in the United States. This move comes despite longstanding climate science warnings and economic challenges facing the coal industry.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), following executive orders from President Trump, has solicited public comments on updates to two resource management plans, one at the Miles City office in Montana, and another at the Buffalo, Wyoming, office. Currently, these plans prohibit new coal mining in the region.
The Powder River Basin, straddling Wyoming and Montana, has communities that depend on tax revenues from the extractive industries. The BLM’s previous moratorium on new coal leases under President Biden was seen as progressive by environmentalists aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions to avert future climate disasters like floods and heat waves.
Following Trump’s return to office, environmentalists in eastern Wyoming and Montana have legally challenged to protect the resource management plans.
U.S. coal production and employment have steadily declined due to cheaper natural gas and renewable energy sources. Burning coal poses risks not only to the climate but also to human health due to emitted pollutants.
The Trump administration is focused on revitalizing coal, with the BLM’s actions following substantial tax breaks for coal companies in a recent spending bill passed by congressional Republicans.
The BLM has not clarified whether the environmental impacts of greenhouse gases from coal will be considered in their review. Jenny Harbine of Earthjustice criticized the BLM’s decision as an unwarranted coal industry benefit, potentially enriching executives at the expense of communities.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates the country has 20 years’ worth of recoverable coal in existing mines. Wyoming and Montana hold 108 billion short tons of recoverable coal, enough to sustain mining for 194 years at current production rates. However, global demand is stagnating.
Steve Clemmer of the Union of Concerned Scientists warns that new mines would exacerbate climate issues, emphasizing the need to phase out coal to mitigate adverse environmental and health effects.
Coal advocates argue that deregulation and lower royalty rates under Trump have improved the industry’s prospects. Travis Deti of the Wyoming Mining Association stated that these changes enhance the competitiveness of Powder River Basin coal.
A study by Energy Innovation reveals that nearly all U.S. coal-fired power plants are more expensive to operate than local renewable energy options. Clemmer argues that continued coal usage inhibits efforts to reduce climate change impacts.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org