Armstrong Joins Effort to Re-Charter National Coal Council

Statement

Today, Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) cosponsored legislation to re-charter the National Coal Council (NCC), the Coal Council Certainty Act of 2021.

Under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) allowed the nearly 40-year-old NCC charter to lapse in November 2021. DOE has since proposed a major overhaul to the charter, which includes gutting the NCC's membership and refocusing its mission away from coal industry innovation.

This legislation led by Congressman David McKinley (R-WV) will codify the NCC's charter that DOE let lapse last month. This would reverse DOE's decision and preserve the NCC's advisory role to the Secretary of Energy with respect to coal policy, technology, and markets.

"The National Coal Council plays a major role in advancing new coal production, including for use in energy production and innovative new carbon products and materials," said Congressman Armstrong. "The NCC charter must be renewed so it can continue advancing policy, technology, and markets for North Dakota's coal producers."

"This Biden administration has made it clear that their energy strategy does not include coal," said Congressman McKinley. "Gutting the National Coal Council is yet another reminder of their intentions. The administration's repeated attacks on the coal industry is killing jobs and will hollow out communities in West Virginia and other coal producing areas. Coal production is truly the backbone of American energy, and with promising developments in carbon capture technology, coal needs to continue to be part of an all-of-the above energy strategy. We need to stand up and fight for coal's future."

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