October 3, 2025 - Coal mining is expected to grow in Tuscaloosa County after Warrior Met Coal submitted the highest bid in a Bureau of Land Management coal lease sale Tuesday.

The Department of Interior announced the lease sale generated over $46 million in revenue and will provide access to more than 53 million tons of metallurgical coal used for steelmaking. The lease encompasses more than 14,000 acres.

“This lease sale is another example of how the Department of the Interior is delivering on President Trump’s commitment to unleash American energy, strengthen rural economies and secure fair returns for the American people,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.

President Donald Trump has pushed to revitalize the American coal industry.

“By expanding access to America’s world-class metallurgical coal reserves, we are creating good-paying jobs, supporting domestic steel production, and reinforcing our nation’s Energy Dominance,” Burgum said.

Warrior Met Coal, located in Tuscaloosa County, submitted a bid worth $46.8 million. The company submitted a proposal to expand one mine by about 5,704 acres that contains an estimated 16.9 million tons of coal. Warrior Met Coal’s other proposal for Blue Creek Mine would expand it by 8,346 acres with about 36.3 million tons of coal. The mining company plans to extract metallurgical coal through underground longwall mining.

The new leases will generate revenue through federal royalties, rents and Alabama state severance taxes, according to the interior department. Royalties from the lease will be split equally between Alabama and the U.S. Treasury.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said “Energy dominance is BACK” on social media, referring to Tuesday’s announcement on the sale.

A final environmental review of the sale revealed that expanding the two mines could increase greenhouse gas emissions by 80% over the mines’ lifetimes.

Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Black Warrior River watershed, submitted comments for the environmental impact statement, warning of negative consequences on the area’s water quality and aquatic salamanders like the Black Warrior waterdog.

When the Trump administration scheduled the coal lease sales, Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said it was “welcome news” and added that boosting domestic energy production will “support local economies, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, and strengthen our national security.”