Biden blocks new mining in region that produces about 40% of nation's coal: 'It's a disaster'
Biden has a target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
By Aubrie Spady Fox News
Published December 2, 2024 1:56pm EST
The Biden administration announced a big decision to block new mining in a key region producing nearly half of the nation's coal over climate change concerns, but it could be short-lived as President-elect Trump prepares to make U.S. energy dominance a key focus of his incoming administration.
Biden's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently approved an amendment to the Resource Management Plan (RMP) to ban new federal coal leases and make "48.12 billion short tons of coal unavailable for leasing consideration in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a proxy for climate change," according to Todd D. Yeager, BLM Buffalo field manager.
The decision will block any new federal mining leases in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, the country's largest coal producing region, by 2041. This region produces about 40% of the nation's coal. BLM, however, will allow for existing coal leases to still be developed.
In a statement to Fox News Digital regarding the decision, Trump's transition team reinforced the idea of the president-elect's campaign promise to bolster American-made energy.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-blocks-new-mining-region-produces-40-nations-coal-disaster
