Trump administration wants to mine coal under federal land in Alabama, western states

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment.

A fresh government report has revealed that more than 356 billion tons of coal sit beneath federally owned land across the contiguous United States. These comprehensive findings could pave the way for increased mining operations, particularly throughout the West.

Mapping the Reserves

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that 4.2 billion tons of this coal are situated within current mining zones and are ready for profitable extraction in the lower 48 states. Alaska also remains a major focus of the report, with estimates suggesting at least 140 billion tons of coal available in the state, potentially climbing as high as 5.5 trillion tons. Currently, there are 34 active coal mines operating on federal property.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum championed the findings in a recent press release, stating, “American Energy Dominance is more important than ever, and so is beautiful clean coal’s role in the production of electricity needed to fuel our future prosperity.” The department noted that these reserves could theoretically sustain the nation’s current coal consumption rates for at least 600 years.

Policy Shifts and Industry Outlook

This push to expand coal production stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in 2025, which tasked federal agencies with cataloging coal resources on public lands. The Department of the Interior is now positioned to leverage this data to expedite coal leasing, scale back environmental regulations, and ramp up exports.

The federal government is also backing the industry financially. This year, the Department of Energy allocated $500 million to retrofit or restart 10 coal-fired power plants across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin recently told members of the National Coal Council that many items on their "wish list" have already been completed.

The Debate Over Environmental Impact

While the administration looks to expand, critics point to the long-standing environmental toll of coal extraction, which includes polluted waterways and significant damage from abandoned mine sites. A 2021 study by Appalachian Voices suggested the cost to remediate damage in seven eastern states could hit $9.8 billion.

Opposition to the administration’s strategy remains vocal. “The reality is that demand for coal is declining, and no amount of political pressure will reverse the direction of the market,” said Kelsey Yarzab Yates, acting chapter director for the Sierra Club in Wyoming. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that coal production has dropped 56 percent since its 2008 peak, driven by rising mining costs and stiff competition from natural gas, which replaced or converted over 100 coal-fired power plants between 2011 and 2019.

The USGS report highlights the Mountain West and Alabama—the latter of which operates three mines dedicated to steel production—as primary areas of interest for future activity.