In a misguided attempt to appease climate activists, the Biden administration has dealt a devastating blow to America’s coal industry and our nation’s energy security.
On Thursday, the Interior Department announced an end to new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, which supplies nearly half of the coal produced in the United States.
This shortsighted decision could prevent billions of tons of coal from being extracted across Montana and Wyoming, with dire implications for our economy and energy independence.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, rightfully condemned the move, stating, “President Biden continues to wage war on Wyoming’s coal communities and families. This will kill jobs and could cost Wyoming hundreds of millions of dollars used to pay for public schools, roads, and other essential services in our communities.”
The administration’s assault on coal comes at a time when our nation can least afford it.
Everything @JoeBiden does drives up costs.
Today, he acted to shut down future coal production in eastern Montana.
It increases costs & harms grid reliability.
I stand with @SteveDaines, @RepRyanZinke & @RepRosendale in opposing Biden's war on energy. https://t.co/xGiW7IXHMw
— Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) May 17, 2024
As Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, points out, “At a time of deteriorating grid reliability, soaring electricity demand and ongoing concern about global energy shocks, proposing a plan of no new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin is outrageous. This damages American energy security and affordability and is a severe economic blow to mining states and communities.”
While climate activists like Shiloh Hernandez, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, celebrate the decision, claiming it will prevent billions of tons of coal from being burned, they fail to recognize the critical role coal plays in meeting our nation’s energy needs.
The United States relies on the Powder River Basin for 44 percent of its coal production, and this decision will have far-reaching consequences for the reliability and affordability of our electricity supply.
The Biden administration’s war on coal is part of a larger agenda to push the nation towards renewable energy, regardless of the economic and social costs.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent finalization of ambitious rules aimed at slashing emissions from power plants will force all existing coal plants to either close or capture 90 percent of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2039.
The Biden administration's Clean Power Plan 2.0 is completely bonkers.
Shuttering 60% of electricity generated simply because it is gas and coal defies all logic.
But for this administration, radical ideology trumps all. pic.twitter.com/clCeWVWfSS
— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) May 11, 2024
This unrealistic target will put immense pressure on an already struggling industry and threaten the livelihoods of countless American workers.
As the United States moves away from coal due to market forces and misguided policies, it is essential to recognize the importance of a diverse energy mix for our national security.
Overreliance on any single energy source, be it renewable or fossil fuel, leaves us vulnerable to supply disruptions and price volatility.
By cutting off access to vast coal reserves in the Powder River Basin, the Biden administration is effectively putting all our eggs in one basket and jeopardizing our energy independence.
The decision to end new coal leasing in the Powder River Basin is a stark reminder of the Biden administration’s misplaced priorities.
As the Biden administration attempts to put the final nail in the coffin of America’s baseload power sources, remember it is about accomplishing a decades-long goal of closing down coal and gas plants and hoping it’s enough to get over the finish line in an election year. pic.twitter.com/kVSo6uZP5c
— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) May 8, 2024
Instead of working to strengthen America’s energy security and support the livelihoods of hardworking Americans, the president has chosen to cater to the demands of climate activists at the expense of our nation’s well-being.
It is time for the administration to recognize the vital role coal plays in our energy mix and the devastating impact their policies will have on American communities and our economy.
