But what can President Trump do about the fact that natural gas prices are killing coal demand, the export market has collapsed because of the slowing of the Chinese economy, and the fact that it's cheaper to strip-mine coal out west than it is to deep mine it in the east?
On January 1, there were a lot of stories about old coal plants shutting down, due to stricter regulations taking effect. That was all EPA generated - not NG competition.
China economy is slowing down to 7% annual growth.
India has slowed down to 5% annual growth. Those 2 countries have one third of the whole world’s people.
If that is their SLOWER growth rate, what will be their faster growth rates? Economies never operate at a fixed level. Problem with coal companies is not lack of growth rates. It is the prohibitive regulations imposed by environmental wacko crowd.
He can let them compete and sink or swim on their own without the heavy hand of Central government on their back.
Number 1. Trump start to de-regulate coal fire plants that Obama promised to kill off.
We still have to make electricity and that major source is/has always been coal.