WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – President Donald Trump has called for an expansion of coal energy production, a move that could have significant implications for coal-producing states like West Virginia.
In a social media post Monday night, Trump stated he is “authorizing” his administration to “immediately begin producing Energy” with coal.
However, it is unclear what specific authorization he is referring to, as he is not currently in office.
West Virginia, one of the nation’s top coal-producing states, has seen a decline in coal jobs and output in recent years as natural gas and renewable energy have gained market share.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey applauded the news in a post on X Monday night.
“Outstanding news! West Virginia is America’s energy state, and we stand ready to work with @realDonaldTrump to lead our nation’s energy resurgence.
President Trump digs coal, and West Virginia digs President Trump!”
In 2022, coal accounted for approximately 9.8 percent of total U.S. energy consumption, down from previous decades.
Trump suggested in his post that China has gained an economic advantage over the U.S. by opening new coal-fired power plants.
If his push to expand coal energy were implemented, it could bring renewed attention to West Virginia’s coal industry.
During his presidency, Trump took steps to roll back environmental regulations on coal and previously declared an energy emergency to prioritize domestic energy production.
