April 15, 2025 - After President Trump signed an executive order to boost the coal industry, the labor union United Mine Workers of America is responding. Last week, President Trump signed executive orders to support America's coal industry, unleash American energy production, and make the U.S. energy dominant. At-Large International Vice President for the United Mine Workers of America, Rick Altman, believes this could be a good thing.

"There has been a black eye with coal for a number of years, and with the commitment from the president and the governor, hopefully that will increase the productivity of the mines," said Rick Altman, At-Large International VP for the UMWA.

Altman adds that, though it will help add jobs to the economy, it is also important to consider the electric power industry. With the Sammis Plant demolition happening on Saturday, this is something to keep in mind.

"There has to be an investment with the power companies now, because of the closures of everything, in order to utilize the coal that can be used to power this country, there has to be revitalization of the power companies," said Altman. "One facilitates the other and we have to be mindful as productivity would increase, we have to be mindful of the inspectors, there's a lot more to it, but we are happy that they are utilizing coal in this country again."

According to the UMWA's website, by December 2020, U.S. coal employment had fallen to 44,100, 7,000 fewer than January of that year. However, with President Trump's order, the hope is to support these jobs and add billions to the economy each year.

Overall, as a miner that worked in the industry for decades, Altman hopes to see this and President Trump's wish under his executive order to create a clean coal industry in America.

"As a miner would like to see is that we can use coal in a safe and clean way, I think technology is out there with carbon sequestration and blue hydrogen so there are technologies out there," said Altman. "I would like to see other ways of utilizing it, which can be good for all of us."