29Sep, 2025
Coal Leasing on Federal Lands

Selling America’s Backyard for a Quick Buck

“Oh, Coal-Scarred Land of Plenty” Lyrics by Judy T. Song created by Suno.

Release of new coal leases on federal lands is more than bad energy policy. The consequences extend beyond energy, threatening rivers, mountains, and wide-open spaces that belong to everyone. Epstein connections may dominate other headlines, but the files here reveal political favoritism benefiting coal companies. Files obtained from public records show millions of acres handed to corporations with close ties to the administration. This is not patriotism — it is a sell-off of America’s future.

Coal leasing is a step backward for the nation

For decades, the U.S. made steady progress toward cleaner, more affordable energy. That progress reduced pollution, created jobs, and built stronger local economies. Now the White House is pushing us in reverse. By reopening 13 million acres for coal leasing, green-lighting massive mine expansions like Montana’s Rosebud Mine, and scheduling new lease sales across Alabama, Utah, and the Powder River Basin, leaders are locking communities into pollution and decline until 2039 and beyond.

This push is not about reliable energy. Markets already moved past coal because renewable power and natural gas are cheaper. Instead, this is a bailout for a dying industry, funded with taxpayer dollars and taxpayer land.

Source: The Guardian

Why every American should care

Coal mining does not just scar landscapes. It scars communities. The jobs promised today often disappear tomorrow, while the damage lasts for decades. Families are left with polluted water, rising health costs, and fewer opportunities in industries like tourism and clean energy.

Meanwhile, corporations profit from land that belongs to the American people. Conservatives and progressives alike should see the problem: stewardship matters. Leaving something better for the next generation is not partisan. It is a core American value.

What we stand to lose

  • Powder River Basin (WY/MT): New leases could unleash massive new coal tonnage.
  • Rosebud Mine (MT): A major expansion adds 33.75 million tons of federal coal and extends operations until 2039.
  • Lease sales in Alabama, Utah, Montana: Thousands of acres pushed to auction.
  • Federal protections revoked: Barriers once blocking mining near sensitive areas are being stripped away.

Every one of these moves takes public wealth and hands it to private interests.

A betrayal disguised as leadership

Coal’s decline is not about politics. It is about economics. Energy markets rejected coal years ago. Propping it up now is not leadership — it is looting. It is giving away America’s future for a short-term headline and a campaign talking point.

This betrayal should matter to anyone who values jobs, water, or land. If you have ever believed in conserving what is good about America — from the family farm to the national park — this fight belongs to you.

What you can do right now

  • Stay informed: Follow public notices from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Department of the Interior (DOI) about lease sales.
  • Speak up: Submit comments during lease review periods, attend local hearings, and share verified information with your community.
  • Build bridges: Talk with neighbors across party lines. Stress shared values like clean water, healthy land, and jobs that last.
  • Demand accountability: Ask local representatives to oppose giveaways of public lands for coal leasing.

Closing: A choice about America’s future

The fight over coal leasing on federal lands is not about nostalgia for the past. It is about who controls America’s future. Do we leave our children polluted rivers and gutted landscapes, or do we hand them thriving communities built on clean, lasting energy?

The White House has made its choice. Now it is up to us to make ours.

Head Guerilla, Judy T.

P.S. In case you missed it, Release the Epstein Files!

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