Senate President attends historic Trump coal announcement
April 09, 2025

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a series of executive orders aimed at boosting the struggling coal industry.
Under the four orders, Trump uses his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars.
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers was invited by the President to attend the announcement.
“America's energy demands are only increasing. I'm encouraged by President Donald Trump's executive order to expedite and streamline the permitting and processing of coal-fired plants in Kentucky once again,” Stivers said. “The incentive package now in place will allow Kentucky to take full advantage of an all-of-the-above energy approach once again, and provide for Kentucky's growing energy demands right here in the commonwealth. Kentucky is uniquely positioned to rejuvenate and refurbish our existing coal-fired plants, and get them operational quickly for maximum output.”
Trump also directed federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands.
In a related action, Trump also signed a proclamation offering coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene.
Trump’s administration had offered power plants and other industrial polluters a chance for exemptions from rules imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA, under Trump appointee Lee Zeldin, set up an electronic mailbox to allow regulated companies to request a presidential exemption under the Clean Air Act to a host of Biden-era rules.
Trump, a Republican, has long promised to boost what he calls “beautiful” coal to fire power plants and for other uses, but the industry has been in decline for decades.
“I call it beautiful, clean coal. I told my people, never use the word coal unless you put beautiful, clean before it,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony where he was flanked by coal miners in hard hats. Several wore patches on their work jackets that said “coal.”
Trump, a Republican, has long promised to boost what he calls “beautiful” coal to fire power plants and for other uses, but the industry has been in decline for decades.
“I call it beautiful, clean coal. I told my people, never use the word coal unless you put beautiful, clean before it,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony where he was flanked by coal miners in hard hats. Several wore patches on their work jackets that said “coal.”
“Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy,” Trump said. “It’s cheap, incredibly efficient, high density, and it’s almost indestructible.”
Senate President Stivers said this brings hope to Kentucky coal miners and coal companies.
“This is a ray of hope for our existing coal-fired plants, the eastern and western Kentucky minefields and the hard-working Kentuckians seeking a second chance at coal for their livelihood,” he said. “I'm pleased President Trump invited me to participate in this significant announcement and change in policy. I'm excited about the potential to expand Kentucky's energy production and become a more aggressive energy exporter to states with even greater demand."
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