Articles Published 8th April 2025
Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241
This executive order prioritizes the revitalization of the American coal industry, emphasizing its role in national security and economic prosperity.
It directs federal agencies to remove regulatory obstacles to coal production, increase domestic coal use, and promote coal exports.
The order also seeks to incorporate coal more broadly into other sectors, such as powering artificial intelligence data centers and supplying the steel industry.
Multiple agencies are tasked with implementing these changes.
Rregulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Energy
President Trump issued a proclamation exempting certain coal-fired power plants from compliance with stricter emission standards for two years.
The rationale cited is that the required technology is not yet commercially available, and that forcing compliance would jeopardize the nation's energy security, the viability of the coal sector, and national security itself.
The exemption postpones enforcement until technologies become viable, maintaining existing emission standards during this period.
Protecting American Energy From State Overreach
This executive order directs the Attorney General to identify and challenge state and local laws deemed to unduly burden domestic energy production.
It cites concerns over national and economic security, federalism, and interstate commerce, arguing that these state-level policies inflate energy costs and contradict the administration's goal of energy dominance.
The order prioritizes addressing policies related to ‘climate change’ or ‘environmental, social, and governance’ initiatives.
The Attorney General is tasked with taking legal action and reporting back to the President within 60 days.
Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid
This executive order addresses the strain on the US electric grid caused by increased energy demand.
It aims to strengthen grid reliability, resilience, and security.
Key actions include streamlining processes for issuing orders under the Federal Power Act, developing a standardized methodology for analyzing reserve margins, and establishing protocols to retain critical generation resources.
The order emphasizes utilizing all available power generation resources to meet growing demand and prevent grid failure.