Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Preserve National Coal Council, Codify Mission in Law

Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Preserve National Coal Council, Codify Mission in Law

Senator Working to Keep NCC Focused on Development of Coal Resources, Advancing New Innovations

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, this week reintroduced the National Coal Council Act to preserve the mission of the National Coal Council (NCC) and help secure the future of U.S. coal production. The NCC is a federal advisory committee that provides advice, recommendations and insights to the Department of Energy (DOE) on issues related to the coal industry:

• The NCC was originally established in 1984 and is comprised of coal producers and consumers, carbon researchers, academics, environmentalists and policy experts.
  • The council's core mission is to advance innovation and technological development, enabling the U.S. to continue making the best use of its abundant coal resources.
• The Biden administration previously allowed the NCC's charter to expire in November 2021, effectively terminating the organization.
  • The Biden administration then replaced the council with an agency focused on advancing Green New Deal-style policies instead of the responsible development and innovative use of coal.
• The Trump administration re-chartered the NCC earlier this year, restoring the council's original mission.
• Hoeven's legislation would permanently extend the NCC's charter and codify it in law, preventing it from being terminated in the future and preserving the council's core mission.

"Through innovation, regulatory relief and the right kind of pro-growth policies, we're working to make the U.S. truly energy dominant. The affordable, reliable baseload power provided by coal is a critical part of these efforts," said Hoeven. "That's why we're working to ensure the NCC stays focused on developing our coal resources and advancing new innovations, like we're doing with Crack the Code 2.0 in North Dakota. By permanently extending its charter, our legislation would preserve the council's mission and help keep DOE on the right track so the U.S. can continue to utilize its vast coal reserves."

In addition to Hoeven, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.). Representative Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

-###-