Fedorchak statement on President Trump’s Executive Orders to Make Coal Great Again

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) released the following statement today after President Donald Trump signed a series of Executive Orders to bolster the U.S. coal industry and help strengthen the nation's energy grid.  

“Today, President Trump affirmed what North Dakotans have known: coal is reliable, abundant, and essential to American energy dominance. At a time when reliable baseload power is being shut down without adequate replacement, his Executive Orders are exactly what we need. With electricity demand from AI and data centers surging, the U.S. urgently needs always-available power—and that’s what coal provides, especially the mine-mouth coal power we produce in North Dakota,” said Fedorchak. “For decades, North Dakota has led the way in clean coal innovation. Our coal industry has been a national leader in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), investing in technologies that cut emissions while delivering dependable, around-the-clock power. We know how to produce energy that’s clean, affordable, and reliable—and we’re ready to ramp up to help power America’s future.”

BACKGROUND: 

President Donald Trump signed Executive Orders today invoking emergency authorities to prevent the shutdown of critical coal-fired power plants and support domestic electricity production. The orders rely on provisions in the Federal Power Act to keep needed plants online and allow utilities to temporarily bypass costly federal regulations.  

Just this week, Rep. Fedorchak introduced a resolution recognizing the urgent and growing threats to the reliability of America’s electric grid. The resolution warns that the premature shutdown of reliable baseload power sources—such as coal and natural gas—without dependable replacements is putting the nation at risk of energy shortages, higher costs, and weakened security.   

According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, more than 115,000 megawatts (MW) of fossil fuel-fired generation capacity are projected to retire between now and 2034. NERC warns that these retirements, if not carefully managed, could push power reserves below safe levels in several regions—particularly during peak winter conditions when renewable generation is less reliable. The report further notes that growing electricity demand, driven in part by data centers and electrification, will place additional stress on the grid unless new dispatchable capacity is added in time.  

North Dakota’s coal industry has a proven record of strong environmental stewardship, including nationally renowned reclamation and 100 percent compliance with the EPA’s federal ambient air quality standards. The state is well-positioned to provide clean, dispatchable baseload energy. With nearly 4,000 MW of coal generation, i Including two CCUS facilities being actively installed, the state is emerging as a national model for balancing energy reliability with environmental responsibility. 

ICYMI: 

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