The coal mining industry reacted with outrage when the Bureau of Land Management recently announced plans to stop issuing new coal leases on the eastern plains of Wyoming and Montana.
From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Mining Association predicted “a severe economic blow to mining states and communities,” while the industry’s political allies likened the move to declaring “war” on coal communities.
The truth is that coal has been steadily falling from its past dominance as energy king for nearly two decades. Domestic coal consumption dropped to 512 million tons in 2022, down 55% since its 2007 peak.
With the downward trajectory expected to continue, the Biden administration’s decision to end coal leasing in the Powder River Basin — the nation’s largest coal-producing region — reflects clear market trends. And far from killing coal, the administration’s plan allows mining to continue as the market transitions.
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