Coal is back on Washington’s agenda, with the Trump administration opening 13.1 million acres of federal land to leasing and pledging $625 million for coal-burning power plants.
The initiative, unveiled alongside Environmental Protection Agency measures, aims to shore up a sector battered by cheap natural gas, renewables and tougher rules.
Officials say the steps will expand coal leasing more than threefold, lower royalty rates, and streamline approvals for projects in states such as Wyoming and Tennessee.
The Department of Energy said the funding will support upgrades or restarts of coal plants and seed new projects.
Coal still faces stiff headwinds: it generates just 15% of U.S. electricity, down from more than half in 2000, government data show.