"The Trump administration has offered coal reserves in Wyoming in its latest move to reinvigorate the country’s coal industry. One environmental lawyer says it’s “ludicrous” to be selling leases for the most expensive and dirtiest form of energy."

"The Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday that it will offer up more than 3,500 acres of federal coal reserves to be sold and mined in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. The auction, set to take place in October, is the latest in a string of sale announcements as the federal government begins to accept new bids to mine coal on public land. 

Under the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior has committed to reinvigorating a coal industry long in decline due to more stringent environmental rules, rising mining costs and competition from natural gas and renewable energy. 

“This lease sale exemplifies BLM’s vital role in strengthening America’s energy independence and positioning Wyoming for long-term economic opportunities,” Kris Kirby, the Bureau of Land Management’s acting state director in Wyoming, said in a statement. “The BLM is committed to the responsible management of public lands, bolstering domestic energy production while benefiting local communities.”"

Arcelia Martin and Jake Bolster report for Inside Climate News September 25, 2025. [2]