Trump signs executive orders to protect 'beautiful, clean coal'

President Donald Trump signed four executive orders Tuesday to protect what he called “clean, beautiful coal," using a variety of mechanisms. 

The orders, Trump said, will slash unnecessary regulations, expedite coal leases on federal lands and streamline permitting. The orders will also stop the early retirement of coal plants as result of the Biden-Harris administration's policies, and they direct the federal government to investigate state-level anti-coal policies to determine if they are constitutional. 

One provision in the orders invokes the Defense Production Act, which grants the president a wide range of authorities to influence the domestic industrial base in the interest of national security, to “turbocharge coal mining in America.” Trump said that order will guarantee that investments and jobs in the coal industry will be protected should a future administration hostile to coal try to undo the order. 

“They’re going to have to go through hell to close you up,” Trump said. 

Another directive in the orders allows Energy Secretary Chris Wright to use federal funding to invest in the development of the next generation of coal technology. 

"Pound for pound, coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy there is on earth today," Trump said.