Interior Secretary: We need power to win the AI race against China

Energy Policy & Production - The Trump administration plans to open over 13 million acres of national public land for coal production and reduce royalty rates for mining companies [1][2] - The US government is investing $625 million to upgrade existing coal plants [4] - Increased coal production aims to support the steel and shipbuilding industries by providing metallurgical coal [5] - Coal contains critical minerals like gallium and germanium, reducing US reliance on China [6] Energy Demand & Global Competition - Electricity demand is increasing significantly [5] - China added 93 gigawatts of coal power capacity last year, highlighting global competition in energy [7] - Worldwide coal production is at a record peak, with China and India being major contributors [9] Climate & Environmental Considerations - The argument is made that shutting down US coal production would be offset by increased production in China within 12-24 months [9] - The US can produce "beautiful clean coal" and balance environmental protection with affordable energy [7][11] - Advancements in AI, powered by abundant energy, can help solve climate problems [10][13] Economic Impact & Innovation - Increased coal production is expected to lower electricity rates and create jobs [6] - AI "intelligence factories" require significant power and are crucial for competing with China [13][14]