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On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy,” signaling a strong commitment to restore America’s energy dominance. This action marked the beginning of a renewed era focused on enhancing domestic energy production.
To spearhead this initiative, the president established the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC). This council unites top government officials dedicated to cutting excessive regulations and boosting American energy production. As members of the NEDC, we are tirelessly working to dismantle the barriers that have hampered our energy workers and escalated costs for families. Our recent gathering at the White House’s Advancing America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Event underscored these ongoing efforts.
In contrast, the Biden administration adopted a strategy that favored unreliable renewable sources over robust energy options, jeopardizing our energy security. This reversed approach obstructed the production of consistent energy and wasted taxpayer money on alternatives that often fail to meet demand when it matters most.
The consequences of this strategy included increased energy bills for households, a less reliable power grid, and a dangerous reliance on foreign nations for essential materials and fossil fuels.
Restoring Reliable Energy Sources
President Trump is committed to changing this narrative. We are reinstituting clean coal power as a cornerstone of our energy strategy because coal delivers the consistent and reliable energy necessary for our factories, homes, and overall economy. Unlike wind and solar energy, coal plants can operate 24/7, regardless of weather conditions. Moreover, this move helps generate good jobs for American workers in the very communities that contributed to our industrial growth.
At the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we are demonstrating that we can protect our environment while simultaneously advancing our economy and creating job opportunities. There is no need to view these aims as mutually exclusive. Currently, we are advancing two critical regulatory reforms designed to unleash American energy dominance through clean coal.
Reforming Regulations for Energy Stability
The first reform involves proposed revisions to regulations governing Steam Electric Power Generation, which provide the certainty that coal plants urgently require. By extending seven major compliance deadlines, we ensure that these plants continue to provide reliable energy without the threat of premature closure.
Additionally, we are introducing new strategies to enhance the Regional Haze implementation process. The existing policies imposed undue financial burdens on power plants, jeopardizing accessible energy for American families. Our objective is to seek input from stakeholders to make meaningful revisions that embrace the latest scientific advancements while ensuring clean air for all Americans.
Earlier this year, we announced 31 significant deregulatory actions, marking an unprecedented day for deregulation in U.S. history. We are achieving more deregulation in just one year than entire federal agencies typically accomplish in multiple presidential terms.
Furthermore, the EPA is reforming the permitting process to clarify that companies only need air permits when they begin construction, rather than years in advance. This change eliminates delays for new energy projects. We have also discarded the outdated Reactivation Policy, which previously obstructed the reestablishment of reliable power plants. These sensible reforms are empowering energy companies to invest in America, creating jobs where they are most needed.
Unlocking Domestic Energy Resources
At the Department of the Interior, we are making strides to restore American energy and mineral dominance by tapping into our vast coal reserves and dismantling the bureaucratic obstacles that have stymied production for years. Our approach proves that it is possible to power our economy, safeguard our resources, and bolster national security—all at once.
We are opening up 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing, the most significant expansion in decades. Previously restricted by bureaucratic overreach, these lands are now accessible to generate jobs, stimulate growth, and promote energy independence.
Additionally, we have decreased the federal coal royalty rate from 12.5 percent to a maximum of 7 percent. This change is providing producers with the confidence needed to invest and expand, maintaining coal’s competitive edge in the global market while reducing energy costs for American families.
Strengthening National Security through Resource Management
Simultaneously, we are spearheading a critical minerals recovery initiative aimed at extracting rare earth elements and strategic materials like zinc, germanium, and tellurium from mine waste and abandoned sites. These minerals are not only vital for national security but are also essential to ensure they are sourced domestically instead of relying on imports from abroad.
Under the leadership of Secretary Doug Burgum, our department is rapidly progressing, slashing red tape and significantly reducing project approval times from years to merely 28 days. We are putting American energy workers in control of their future. Our actions speak louder than words; we are not merely discussing energy dominance; we are realizing it.
Ensuring Future Energy Reliability
At the Department of Energy, we are overriding the restrictive energy policies of the previous administration and striving to secure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for Americans. Coal is central to these efforts.
In alignment with President Trump’s directives, the Department of Energy published a report on grid reliability, highlighting that the planned retirement of coal and natural gas plants, in conjunction with increasing electricity demand, threatens the U.S. electric grid’s stability. The report warned of a potential increase in blackouts by a factor of 100 by the year 2030 if this trend continues.
To accommodate the growing demand for energy driven by domestic manufacturing and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers, our coal-powered plants must remain functional. On September 29, the Department of Energy announced a $625 million investment to revive our nation’s coal industry. A significant portion of these funds will be allocated to ensuring the ongoing operation of existing coal plants while adhering to the highest environmental standards.
Strengthening the Power Grid
The Department of Energy has also issued urgent directives to protect the U.S. power grid, averting unnecessary outages by preventing premature plant closures. In a notable example, in May 2025, the Department instructed the Midcontinent Independent System Operator to maintain a 1,560-megawatt coal plant in operation, ensuring continuous electricity supply throughout the summer months.
The outlook for coal remains bright. Coal has historically powered the world’s most formidable industrial engine, and under this administration, it is poised to achieve similar heights once again.
Forging Ahead with Energy Innovations
President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut is further energizing the initiatives pursued by the National Energy Dominance Council, providing us with additional resources to eliminate barriers to American energy production.
The efforts we are undertaking will restore America’s energy infrastructure quicker than ever before and level the playing field for reliable energy sources, rather than favoring intermittent solutions like wind and solar supported by taxpayer subsidies.
Under President Trump, America is on the rise, and our energy sector is thriving. We are committed to moving away from the failed strategies of the past. The era of American energy dominance has arrived, with coal as a pivotal component in establishing the U.S. as a global energy superpower. The future belongs to those nations capable of self-sufficiency, and with President Trump’s guidance, that nation is the United States of America.
Douglas Burgum serves as the Secretary of the Interior and is a former governor of North Dakota.
Christopher Wright is the Secretary of Energy.
