Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Representative Harold “Hal” Rogers has expressed support for President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders aimed at revitalizing America's coal industry. The executive orders remove a leasing moratorium on federal lands and classify coal as a critical mineral. This move seeks to address increasing electricity demands for domestic manufacturing and new artificial intelligence data centers.
Rogers highlighted the significance of this development for Eastern Kentucky, remarking, "This is welcomed news for Eastern Kentucky’s coal country and restoring affordable energy in the United States. Our region was decimated by the Obama Administration’s war on coal, sending 14,000 coal miners to the unemployment line and driving thousands of coal-related jobs out of our region. Not only were coal mines shuttered, but coal-fired power plants were also imploded. It will take time to rebuild this industry, but coal needs to be a part of our energy portfolio for future generations to remain competitive."
According to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, the state has lost around 85 percent of its coal jobs over the past 30 years. As of March 2025, there are only 2,500 coal mining jobs remaining in Eastern Kentucky, according to data from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.
During an event, President Trump invited Tony Campbell, CEO of East Kentucky Power Cooperative, to discuss the importance of coal-generated power. Campbell stated, "Mr. President, electric co-ops are powering America, and we are proud to partner with you and your administration to power America into the future. Our electric cooperative in Kentucky understands the importance of reliable, affordable and American-made energy, especially coal and natural gas. Coal fuels most of the electricity generated by our cooperative. America must keep coal plants open and running to ensure reliable electricity when we need it most."
For further details on Congressman Rogers' efforts in Washington and Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov or follow him on social media.
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