Government Signals Plan to Reopen Powder River Basin to Coal Development

The Trump administration has initiated the process to reopen the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Eastern Montana for new coal leasing, reversing a 2024 Interior Department decision that halted leasing due to declining demand and the climate crisis. Earthjustice contends that this move, alongside a budget bill slashing coal royalty rates and mandating permit approvals, prioritizes corporate profits over public health and climate goals. The briefing notes that wind and solar power surpassed coal in the U.S. in 2024 and warns that coal mining continues to threaten the air, water, and health of frontline communities, including the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

• The Trump administration is reversing a 2024 Interior Department policy by starting the process to reopen the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Eastern Montana for new coal leasing, despite a previous determination that leasing should end due to the climate crisis and dwindling demand.
• A recently signed budget bill represents a significant expansion of coal support by reducing royalty rates, offering millions of acres of public land for mining, and mandating the approval of mine permits.
• Coal mining is identified as incompatible with climate action because coal is responsible for nearly 60% of the energy sector's CO2 emissions.
• Coal development poses severe health and environmental risks, including the release of arsenic, mercury, and lead, which are linked to heart disease, reproductive harm, neurological damage, and cancer.
• Market trends show coal's decline, with wind and solar power surpassing coal power in the United States for the first time in 2024.

APA

Earthjustice (2025). Government Signals Plan to Reopen Powder River Basin to Coal Development. https://earthjustice.org/brief/2025/government-signals-plan-to-reopen-powder-river-basin-to-coal-development

Chicago

Earthjustice. Government Signals Plan to Reopen Powder River Basin to Coal Development. 2025. https://earthjustice.org/brief/2025/government-signals-plan-to-reopen-powder-river-basin-to-coal-development.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=Government Signals Plan to Reopen Powder River Basin to Coal Development |date=18 July 2025 |url=https://earthjustice.org/brief/2025/government-signals-plan-to-reopen-powder-river-basin-to-coal-development |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjustice2025government, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Government Signals Plan to Reopen Powder River Basin to Coal Development}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://earthjustice.org/brief/2025/government-signals-plan-to-reopen-powder-river-basin-to-coal-development}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }