Hoeven, Capito lead GOP lawmakers in introducing Coal Council Certainty Act

The National Coal Council (NCC) would be reinstated under legislation introduced on Dec. 16 by U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

“Coal remains a reliable, affordable and vastly abundant energy source in America,” said Sen. Hoeven, who sponsored the bill. “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.”

Originally established in 1984 and comprised of coal producers and consumers, carbon researchers, academics, environmentalists, and policy experts, the NCC’s core mission was to advance innovation and technological development in the coal industry, according to information provided by the senators, but the NCC’s charter expired in November.

If enacted, the Coal Council Certainty Act of 2021, S. 3430, would permanently extend the charter of the federal advisory committee to continue to provide advice, recommendations and insights to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on issues related to the coal industry.

“West Virginians know all too well the damage anti-coal policies from Washington, D.C., can inflict on our communities,” said Sen. Capito, one of the bill’s six original cosponsors. “The Coal Council Certainty Act would ensure the council’s charter is permanently extended and energy-producing states like West Virginia continue to have a seat at the table when it comes to coal policy, technology, and markets.”

“The National Coal Council provides important policy recommendations and perspectives to the Department of Energy, and it was a mistake by this administration to not renew its charter last month,” she added. 

Sen. Hoeven said that letting the council’s charter expire is one more example of how “President Biden continues to undermine the coal industry, threatening the reliability of the electric grid and raising costs for consumers.”

Among the lawmakers who joined Sens. Capito and Hoeven in introducing S. 3430 was U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT). The bill is a companion to the same-named H.R. 6187, which U.S. Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) introduced on Dec. 8 with 11 Republican original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), John Joyce (R-PA), John Curtis (R-UT), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Bill Johnson (R-OH).