Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says Biden-era policies impacting the coal industry must be replaced with pro-coal programs.
In a 23-state coalition letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Marshall said that a growing nation comes a growing need to “reignite America’s energy grid with coal.”
The letter came after Burgum stated the importance of keeping every coal plant open in America and that shut-down coal plants need to be reopened.
“America needs coal power to succeed,” the letter stated. “For years, our national energy grid has been under tremendous pressure. Many factors are pushing energy demand up: a growing population, an increasingly electrified vehicle fleet, exploding use by data-storage centers and crypto mining, and more. Yet the Biden administration aggressively and shortsightedly implemented anti-fossil fuel policies that pushed energy supply down.”
Marshall said fossil fuel energy is important for 21st-century challenges.
“America’s energy crisis is real, and we are in a difficult position,” Marshall said. “Coal is critical for our energy future, and it provides the reliability, baseload capacity, and affordable energy necessary to fuel our nation’s growth.”
“From artificial intelligence to manufacturing, we need coal-fired power to remain globally competitive, support industries like steel and aluminum, and protect our national security,” he continued. “Without coal, we risk losing our technological edge and the prosperity that comes with it. It’s time to unleash the power of American coal and ensure energy security for the future of our country.”
According to an annual report, U.S. coal consumption decreased 17.4% in 2023.
Representatives from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, North Dakota and Wyoming sent Burgum a letter in support of his comments.
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