Coal deposits beneath federally managed public lands in the United States could supply the country's energy needs for at least 600 years at current consumption rates, according to a new study from the US Geological Survey (USGS), lending support to the Trump administration's push to revitalize the coal industry.

The USGS report, released this week, identifies 4.2 billion short tons of reported coal reserves tied to active mines, along with an additional 356 billion short tons of available coal resources on federally managed lands. The figures underscore the scale of coal deposits under federal stewardship, even as the US electricity sector has steadily shifted toward natural gas and renewables over the past decade.

Production and Regional Distribution

In 2024, 34 coal mines operating on federal lands produced more than 261 million short tons, the USGS said. Of these, 29 mines produce thermal coal used for electricity generation, three Alabama operations produce metallurgical coal for steelmaking, one Colorado mine supplies the cement industry, and one Utah mine remains idled.

Wyoming dominates federal coal production, accounting for 14 of the active mines and holding 87% of reported reserves associated with active federal operations. The North Antelope Rochelle mine, located in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, was identified as the world's largest coal mine by reported reserves.

Administrative and Policy Context

The federal lands covered by the study are administered by the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Interior, along with the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement: "American Energy Dominance is more important than ever, and so is beautiful clean coal's role in the production of electricity needed to fuel our future prosperity. Thanks to the USGS's rigorous and independent assessment, we're better equipped to manage America's vast public lands responsibly while supporting energy security and economic opportunity."

The assessment aligns with President Donald Trump's broader efforts to revive the coal sector. Trump signed Executive Order 14261, which directed a review of coal resources beneath federal lands. Separately, Burgum added metallurgical coal to the 2025 List of Critical Minerals, a designation that carries implications for permitting and supply chain policy for steelmaking materials.

The USGS report also calls for additional geological mapping in Alaska, where the agency estimates at least 140 billion short tons of coal resources exist. However, the state's total coal resources could be as high as 5.5 trillion short tons, according to the assessment.

Funding and Climate Debate

The report comes as the Trump administration has committed more than $1 billion to strengthen the domestic coal industry, including funding to extend the operating lifespans of coal-fired power plants and expand coal production capacity. The effort marks a reversal of direction from the prior administration, which had emphasized coal plant retirements and a transition toward lower-carbon energy sources.

This policy direction represents a sharp departure from the consensus among climate scientists, who continue to maintain that reducing coal, oil, and gas consumption is essential to limiting global warming and averting more severe climate impacts.