Written by insidesources 

There is no question that the future is brighter for our nation’s coal industry.

Changes in policy, regulations and markets are contributing to a stronger domestic coal industry. The U.S. economy is growing again. Global economic activity is increasing. The business prospects of other countries that use our coal for electricity, steel-making and other industrial purposes are better. U.S. coal exports are up a whopping 70 percent year-to-date through September 2017.

Some new U.S. coal mines have opened and others are expanding, adding good jobs and tax revenue for states and localities. According to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, year-to-date 2017 U.S. coal production has increased by about 8 percent over 2016. Coal mining employment is trending similarly. It has risen every quarter of 2017, and was up 7 percent for the most recent period, per analysis by S&P Global Coal Market Intelligence.

The path for coal’s comeback is driven by President Trump’s dramatically different vision for the development and use of our nation’s energy resources. These riches are seen as a strength, not something to be kept in the ground. They are viewed as a means to achieve energy independence and provide energy security. The energy policy differences between the current administration and the prior one are most striking when it comes to coal, which the United States has more of than any other country.

The Trump administration started early this year to restore balance and fairness to the federal regulatory process, support job creation and strengthen energy independence. Actions by Congress and the president in February and March initiated the process of eliminating, rescinding or changing many federal regulations affecting coal production and use. Having been pushed through under the various guises of environmental benefits, regulatory streamlining and business planning certainty, they were simply sweeping bureaucratic maneuvers to increase the cost of coal and make it less competitive in the marketplace. Thus, the foundation has begun to be laid to rebuild and sustain our nation’s vital coal industry.