Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Newsmax on Monday that the department’s move to open 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing is a direct byproduct of President Donald Trump’s vow to “unleash American energy.”
“This is fulfilling President Trump’s very smart, very common-sense campaign promise to unleash American energy,” Burgum told “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE.” “President Trump knows that we need more power in our country. He understands there is no energy transition. This is energy addition.”
The Interior Department announced earlier in the day that the land will be available for new coal leases, marking one of the largest single openings of federal land for energy production in decades. Burgum said the decision reflects Trump’s view that coal remains a vital baseload power source for the U.S. grid, even as the administration expands oil, gas, and other forms of energy.
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