The Trump administration’s Executive Order on “Reviving America’s Great Coal Industry” is a troubling and misguided attempt to revive an industry that has been in decline for decades, largely due to environmental concerns. The order seeks to expand coal production by rolling back environmental regulations, but fails to address the fact that renewable energy sources are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
While it is true that coal provides jobs in certain regions of the country, these jobs will not last forever as long as companies continue to rely on cleaner and more efficient forms of energy production. In addition, the order ignores the fact that many of the pollutants generated by coal production are harmful to human health and the environment.
The executive order also seeks to expand coal exports through increased infrastructure development, which would contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in other parts of the world. This is a clear example of short-sighted thinking that does not take into account the long-term consequences of our actions on the environment and human health.
Overall, this executive order represents a misguided attempt to prop up an industry that is outdated and unsustainable in the long term. While there may be some benefits to reviving coal production in certain regions, these benefits should not come at the expense of the environment or public health.
Read the full text of the order at the whitehouse.gov website.