Should the National Coal Council be reestablished?
H.R. 3015 reestablishes the National Coal Council, a federal advisory committee established in 1984. The purpose of the National Coal Council is to provide information to the Secretary of Energy with advice regarding coal production, research, marketing, and utilization across industrial and power generation uses. The National Coal Council must be reestablished to the charter that was in effect on November 19, 2021, restoring the membership to include a variety of coal industry experts and reinstating its advisory operational functions. The bill also exempts the National Coal Council from the two-year charter renewal requirement under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Rulli (Republican, Ohio, District 6)
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Opponents say
• "The coal industry has long stacked the National Coal Council with coal industry representatives who meet behind closed doors to try to launder their own interests into federal policy while shutting out the voices of ranchers, landowners, and coal mine neighbors. The only solution to this one-sided, secretive decision making is to pull back the curtain and open the National Coal Council’s proceedings to public inspection." Source: Marcia Westkott, Chair of Powder River Basin Resource Council and member of WORC
• "The goal of the legislation has already been achieved. Domestic consumption of coal has decreased by 64 percent since its peak in 2007. The vast majority—over 90 percent—of that decline has been driven by a sharp decrease in the demand for coal from power plants. This decrease has been due to a number of factors, including increased competition from clean sources of energy and the decrease in the price of natural gas. It is unclear that the NCC has the power to reverse either of those trends, and efforts by the Trump Administration to keep two coal plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania open appear poised to increase electricity prices." Source: Rep. Frank Pallone (Democrat, New Jersey)
Proponents say
• "Coal is essential for generation of 24/7 electricity generation that powers America's homes and businesses. But misguided policies from previous administrations have stifled this critical American industry. H.R. 3015 undoes misguided policy of the last administration by re-establishing the National Coal Council in accordance with the charter that was in effect November 19 of 2021. I urge members to support H.R. so the National Coal Council can once again cement American energy dominance, increase domestic production, improve conditions for workers, strengthen the industry base, support hundreds of thousands of jobs, and stop the war on clean coal." Source: Rep. Michael Rulli (Republican, Ohio)
• "The American people need more energy, and the Department of Energy is helping to meet this demand by unleashing supply of affordable, reliable, secure energy sources–including coal. Coal is essential for generating 24/7 electricity generation that powers American homes and businesses, but misguided policies from previous administrations have stifled this critical American industry. With President Trump’s leadership, we are cutting the red tape and bringing back common sense." Source: Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy
- Full Committee on Energy and Commerce Advances 13 Bills to Unleash American Energy (Press Release)
- National Coal Council Reestablishment Act (Codify Legal Publishing)
- Four-decade old US coal advisory council hours may be numbered (S&P Global)
- The National Coal Council (NCC)
- Department of Energy Reestablishes National Coal Council (Hunton)
- Rep. Michael Rulli’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
