By Emily Arthun, President & CEO, American Coal Council
In a long-overdue return to energy realism, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed repealing two of the most damaging regulatory regimes ever imposed on the coal-fired power sector: the Obama-Biden greenhouse gas rules and the 2024 amendments to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).
These proposed repeals aren’t about rolling back environmental protection—they’re about restoring common sense. They affirm what America’s grid operators, industries, and energy experts have long known but many in Washington have refused to admit: America’s power needs coal—and it needs a regulatory framework grounded in facts, not ideology.
Emily Arthun
The Problem with Fantasy Regulation
For years, coal-based power plants have been shackled by regulations that defy economic logic, engineering limits, and constitutional bounds. From unrealistic mandates for carbon capture and storage (CCS) to unlawful generation-shifting schemes, the past two administrations tried to legislate coal out of existence—not through laws passed by Congress, but through administrative fiat.
The 2015 Clean Power Plan and its 2024 sequel were prime examples. They imposed rigid, one-size-fits-all emission targets and compliance deadlines that were technologically and economically unachievable. These rules threatened to gut America’s coal fleet, driving up power costs and destabilizing the grid.
Now, Administrator Zeldin is taking the right step by proposing to repeal those rules entirely.
EPA’s new position under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act -- in contrast to the Obama and Biden administrations -- is rooted in reality. The agency now recognizes that greenhouse gases (GHGs), unlike localized pollutants, are global in nature. The U.S. power sector contributes a relatively minor and declining share of total global GHG emissions. Meanwhile, countries like China and India are expanding coal use at record pace.
Shuttering clean, reliable U.S. coal plants will not reduce global emissions—but it will weaken our grid, cost American jobs, and increase dependence on foreign energy technologies.
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US Electric Grids Brace for Scorching Heat as Energy Prices Surge
U.S. grid operators on Monday directed power plants to maximize their output as wholesale electricity prices skyrocketed during a dangerous heat wave afflicting the eastern half of the country.
When homes and businesses crank up energy-intensive air conditioners, the risk of power outages increases in extremely hot temperatures if electricity output fails to meet rising consumption. The surge in real-time prices signaled tight energy supplies across major metropolitan areas.
In Boston, real-time wholesale electricity prices surged to more than $400 per megawatt hour (MWh) at 5:30 p.m. EDT, according to ISO New England, the grid operator for a six-state region. Earlier in the day, the wholesale price was less than $50 per MWh.
Several thousand customers of Con Edison (ED.N), opens new tab, a major investor-owned electric utility in New York, were without power due to the sweltering temperatures, the company said. Con Edison restored power to some 1,600 customers in the Queens borough of New York City, while over 6,200 homes and businesses were still without electricity.
Meteorologists at weather forecaster AccuWeather projected high temperatures in New York, the biggest city in the United States, would tie the 137-year-old record of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35.6 Celsius) on Monday before breaking that record on Tuesday with an expected 98 F.
Temperatures are projected to cool starting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, New York ISO, the state's grid operator, reported wholesale electricity prices topping $600 per MWh on Monday evening in the zone for New York City.
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Significant Industry Developments
Below is a message from Chris Hamilton, President, West Virginia Coal Association:
The repeal of the Biden era Carbon and Mercury Mact rules under the Clean Air Act and OSM’s Proposed Ten Day Notice rule, along with HB 2014 becoming effective are among the significant industry actions scheduled over the next several months. Additionally, there are several important cases unfolding before the WVPSC which will also require our attention and response.
The two EPA rule actions appearing in the Federal Register last week (attached) involve the outright repeal of the Carbon and Mercury Mats rules which were designed to substantially reduce coal fired electric generation. We have been asked to help generate favorable support for these two EPA actions. Accordingly, comments are due on August 7 for the Carbon rule and August 11 on the Mercury mats rule.
Chris Hamilton
WVCA will draft comments for both measures and coordinate additional comments among members and through Friends of Coal.
On the state level, HB 2014 "Power Generation and Consumption Act” becomes effective on July 11th and concurrently implements the important coal provisions contained in the Governor’s microgrid legislative program. The coal provisions are designed to require instate regulated coal plants to run at a higher capacity factor and schedule appropriate coal plant modifications to effectively extend the life of the existing coal fleet. When fully implemented, these measures should precipitate increased instate consumption of thermal coal supplies.
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Bluefield Coal Show * September 10-12, 2025 * Brushfork Armory Civic * Bluefield, WV
As coal markets show renewed strength, the Bluefield Coal & Mining Show returns September 10–12 at the Brushfork Armory Civic Center in Bluefield, West Virginia. Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias, this premier event brings together key decision-makers from across the mining and energy sectors.
“The outlook for the industry is very positive,” said Bob Ramsey, CEO of Industrial Solutions Group and General Chairman of the show.
“This year’s theme, ‘Connecting Buyers & Sellers,’ reflects our focus on creating real value for exhibitors and attendees alike.”
Celebrating nearly 50 years, the biennial show draws thousands of visitors from more than 25 coal-producing states and abroad. With more than 20 new exhibitors joining this year’s lineup from throughout the United States and Canada, this event focuses solely on the mining industry and intends to bring people from every part of the coal and mining industries to the coal fields of Southern West Virginia.
Set in the heart of coal country, the event is a unique blend of business and Appalachian hospitality and plays a key role in supporting the region’s economy and quality of life while affording the attendees the opportunity to engage in transacting business in person with the "Real Mining People".
The event is presented in partnership with CoalZoom.com and Mining People Magazine.
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The Goal of Coal is the Cornerstone
By Frank Clemente and Fred Palmer; Coal is the Cornerstone LLC
Our Mission. Coal is America’s greatest energy resource, but coal and its associated industries are under relentless attack. The EIA projects that by 2035, coal will produce less than one percent of electricity and only have 3 GW of capacity compared to about 175 GW today. In other words, in just 10 years, reliable and affordable baseload coal will be wiped from the US energy landscape. All this in the context that the US faces unprecedented electricity demand over the coming decades. Meanwhile, China and India are greatly expanding their baseload coal fleets to accommodate rising demand from AI, Data Centers and rapidly increasing societal electrification.
Fred Palmer
We formed Coal is the Cornerstone, Inc. to give voice to supporters of coal in its many dimensions and contributions. Coal has been demonized to the point where few individuals or organizations now speak in favor of its use. The media and other anti-coal special interest groups hold sway. Consider the following headlines just since the Trump Administration announced support for coal: Sierra Club: “We want to close all US coal plants”; Reuters: “Trump Administration plans to give dirty US coal plants a reprieve”; The Washington Post: “Trump gave the dying coal industry a lifeline”; ABC: “Trump wants ‘clean coal’ but there’s no such thing”
These unfounded exaggerations are legion in the press, television and social media. Yet, the coal industry has not developed a viable response to coherently delineate the continuing contributions coal makes to the lives of virtually every human being in the US, Europe and throughout the globe. Energy is the sine qua non of modern life, and coal has been, is, and continues to be our most important source of energy. From electricity to steel to cement to communication, coal is the fundamental cornerstone of contemporary civilization, and the US has 27% of the world’s coal.
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