WASHINGTON – Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) in introducing the Coal Council Certainty Act, legislation to reinstate the National Coal Council (NCC). The NCC is a federal advisory committee that provided advice, recommendations and insights to the Department of Energy (DOE) on issues related to the coal industry. It was originally established in 1984 and was comprised of coal producers and consumers, carbon researchers, academics, environmentalists and policy experts. The council’s core mission was to advance innovation and technological development, enabling the U.S. to continue utilizing its abundant coal resources while improving environmental stewardship.
However, DOE allowed the NCC’s charter to expire in November, with the intention to re-charter the council and change its focus away from the responsible development and more innovative uses of coal. In response, Cramer and Hoeven’s legislation would permanently extend the NCC’s charter as it existed prior to its expiration, preserving the council’s core mission.
“Joe Biden has done everything in his power to undermine one of the most reliable, affordable, and abundant energy resources we are blessed with in North Dakota – coal. Letting the National Coal Council’s charter expire last month is the latest attack in the Democrats’ longtime war on coal. Our bill codifies and reinstates the charter of this critical advisory committee, which provides a platform for the commonsense and exceptionalism of North Dakotans to influence federal coal policy,” said Senator Cramer.
“Coal remains a reliable, affordable and vastly abundant energy source in America,”said Senator Hoeven. “President Biden continues to undermine the coal industry, threatening the reliability of the electric grid and raising costs for consumers. Now, the administration is attempting to co-opt the National Coal Council as part of this harmful agenda. Our legislation would ensure this important advisory council can continue to advance its core mission of securing coal’s future in our country’s energy mix.”
Senators Cramer and Hoeven are joined on the bill by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Lankford (R-OK), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). Congressman David McKinley (R-WV) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
