Coal executive: Trump ‘can’t bring mining jobs back’

The head of the largest private coal firm in the U.S. says President Trump won’t be able to bring back coal industry jobs despite a push this week to deregulate fossil fuels. 

Robert Murray, the founder and CEO of Murray Energy, said Trump should “temper his expectations,” given the way market forces — rather than regulations — have hurt the coal industry and reduced employment. 

“I suggested that he temper his expectations,” Murray told The Guardian. “Those are my exact words. He can’t bring them back.” 

Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday undoing several Obama-era climate regulations, including many opposed by the coal industry.  

{mosads}Trump’s executive order is expected to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to undo the Clean Power Plan, a rule issued under Obama to cut electricity-sector carbon emissions. 

Utilities have moved away from coal in favor of cheaper and cleaner fuels, such as prevalent and inexpensive natural gas. As coal demand has fallen, several mining firms have declared bankruptcy, closed mines and shed jobs. 

Murray said Trump’s campaign promises to bring those jobs back won’t be easy, but added that Trump’s presidency makes the political situation better for coal miners. 

“I would not say it’s a good time in the coal industry. It’s a better time,” Murray told The Guardian.

“Politically it’s much better. Barack Obama and his Democrat supporters were the greatest destroyers the United States of America has ever seen in its history. He destroyed reliable electric power in America, he destroyed low-cost electric power in America, and he attempted to totally destroy the United States coal industry.”