In rural areas of southwestern Indiana, including nearby Sullivan and Greene counties, it was not uncommon in the months before the recent presidential election to see signs that simply stated, “Trump Digs Coal.”
Such messages signified support for candidate Donald Trump, who promised during his campaign to revitalize the coal industry by peeling back environmental regulations and put miners back to work.
As is the case with campaign promises from any source, promises don’t always reflect reality. If coal miners who have seen good-paying jobs wither away in recent years are counting on a big resurgence of activity in the coal fields during Trump’s upcoming term, they may find themselves sorely disappointed.
Kery Murakami, CNHI’s Washington reporter, explained the situation in a story that appeared on the front page of Monday’s Tribune-Star. He wrote that while tighter environmental regulations have squeezed the coal market and made the fossil fuel less competitive, other energy market forces also play a major role, and the friendlier policies of a Trump administration won’t necessarily turn coal into a boom industry.
Campaign politics often confuse issues more than enlighten them. The viability of coal as a major energy source is one of those that is far more complicated than sound bites and rally points can do justice. Even highly partisan elected officials such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky acknowledge that coal’s struggles are caused by a variety of forces. Yes, the Clean Power Plan, which is part of the Obama Administration’s key energy and environmental policies, will undoubtedly have an negative impact on coal’s future. But the cheaper price of natural gas is a prominent culprit as well.
McConnell wants to roll back what he calls Obama’s “assault” on coal, but he understands a turnaround for the coal industry won’t come quickly, if at all. Reversing the Clean Power Plan is just a start. “Whether that immediately brings business back is hard to tell,” McConnell said, “because it’s a private sector activity.”
Coal still plays a major role in Indiana’s energy picture and will continue to do so. Protecting the environment is an important issue that Hoosiers can and will embrace. Trump may “dig coal,” but making the industry more viable is a daunting challenge that won’t be resolved by pithy campaign slogans. Coal’s future in Indiana will depend on finding ways to blend the needs for jobs and affordable power with responsible stewardship of nature and the environment. Ignoring any of those factors will produce a flawed and failed policy.