Natural Resources Committee Considers Hageman Bill to Unleash Coal Production in the Powder River Basin

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources considered Rep. Hageman's bill to remove barriers to new coal leasing in Wyoming's Powder River Basin (PRB). Fourteen years of sustained attacks on American coal production have halted new leases in the Powder River Basin, which the Wyoming Energy Authority recently determined could cause shortages for the nation's ever growing power needs as early as 2030.

Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Rep. Hageman, coal is rightfully back in favor and requires eliminating barriers imposed by the radical environmental lobby. President Trump ended the Obama era moratoriums on new leasing, while Rep. Hageman worked with her colleagues to terminate the PRB specific bans by repealing the Buffalo resource management plan issued by the Biden administration. The One Big Beautiful Bill removed the "Inflation Reduction Act's" increased production costs and mandated new leasing on federal lands. These reforms are having a positive impact for Wyoming coal, but there is more work needed to reverse the decades-long war on coal.

In line with President Trump's executive order to revitalize the coal industry, H.R. 7872 removes barriers to new leasing by modernizing the bonus bid payment structure. Winning bids currently pay 20 percent of the bid up front, and then another 20 percent for the next four years. This upfront mandate is a financial deterrent and requires significant additional investment before long permitting timelines and well before a mine generates revenue. H.R. 7872 extends payment over 10 years, reducing this front-end hurdle for new leasing and creating more long-term certainty for the Wyoming K-12 education construction account funded by the bonus bids.

Today's hearing was an important first step to keep up the momentum in support of Wyoming coal.