skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20%; House Committee takes up 'drill, baby, drill' budget today; WA voting rights advocates push for democracy vouchers statewide; NYS Jewish students speak to Congress; IN '50501' movement expands summer protests; Trump order targets marine monuments for commercial fishing.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump administration offers $1,000 to undocumented migrants to self deport. Democrats oppose Social Security changes and Trump's pick to lead the agency, and Congress debates unpopular easing of limits on oil and gas drilling on public lands.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rural students who face hurdles going to college are getting noticed, Native Alaskans may want to live off the land but obstacles like climate change loom large, and the Cherokee language is being preserved by kids in North Carolina.

As Trump backs PA coal revival, critics say it's unlikely

play audio
Play

Monday, April 21, 2025   

The decades-long decline of Pennsylvania's coal industry could shift in another direction after a series of executive orders by President Donald Trump - although current market trends indicate it's unlikely.

Coal-fired power plants made up just over 16% of U.S. electricity in 2023. That's half what it was a decade ago.

Tom Schuster, director of the Sierra Club of Pennsylvania, said the coal industry is in irreversible decline that executive orders most likely can't change.

He said it's been outpaced by renewable energy, which has now surpassed coal in electricity generation over a 12 month period.

"Unfortunately," said Schuster, "what this order could do is expose people to higher electricity costs by keeping unprofitable plants online longer, and also jeopardize people's health by exempting them from environmental regulations."

The orders direct agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to ease restrictions on coal, which the president suggests could help meet rising energy demands of manufacturing and AI data centers.

Schuster said these actions are part of broader deregulation, and that Pennsylvanians know the risks of unchecked coal use.

He said in today's market, relying on coal to meet power demands is no longer viable.

One executive order claims mining and burning coal will bring back good-paying jobs, but Schuster said that's unlikely.

He pointed out that coal generated about half of Pennsylvania's electricity 15 years ago, but now makes up only 10% - and he said reopening retired plants isn't economical.

"There's only two conventional coal-fired power plants left in Pennsylvania," said Schuster. "There's a handful of smaller specialty plants that burn coal refuse, but it's a relatively small part of our energy generation today, so I don't think the economic impact in terms of coal-fired generation is going to be that much."

An executive order also aims to boost coal exports. Pennsylvania exports a fair amount of its coal, mainly to China - but the trade war and retaliatory tariffs could stymie that effort.



Disclosure: Sierra Club contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
The Ohio Education Association estimates Ohio public schools would be underfunded by $2.75 billion under the House version of the state budget. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As Ohio lawmakers debate the state budget, advocates for public schools are voicing concerns proposed cuts and policy changes could harm children's …


Environment

play sound

A big warehouse project proposed for the Inland Empire is being challenged in court Wednesday by a coalition of environmental justice groups…

Social Issues

play sound

Groups fighting hunger in Oregon are urging residents to speak up if they are concerned about the cuts Congress could make to food, health care and …


Eduardo Mata Montessori in Dallas received a technology award package valued at $1,000, which included their choice of tech "essentials," such as laptops, keyboards, projectors, headphones and speakers. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Across Texas, 63 schools are participating in a Parent Teacher Association digital literacy program known as "Connected: Ready, Tech, Go!." The …

Social Issues

play sound

Seattle's City Council voted last week to put the city's Democracy Voucher Program on the ballot to be renewed in August and supporters of the program…

The Agriculture Enterprise Area Program, under the Farmland Preservation program, offers additional financial incentives for communities who commit to keeping land in agriculture use for a specified period. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Wisconsin's investment in preserving its agricultural land is offering some solace to farmers and landowners while helping them save money amid a clim…

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota law requires K-12 school libraries to be staffed by a licensed media specialist but survey results indicated almost half of districts have d…

Environment

play sound

Today, the Republican budget package on the nation's energy policy gets a closer look from the House Natural Resources Committee in Congress…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021