April 21, 2026 - Secretary of the Interior and Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council Doug Burgum, along with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, President and Chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank John Jovanovic, NEDC Director Jarrod Agen, and U.S. Trade and Development Agency Deputy Director Thomas Hardy, convened Indo- Pacific leaders from 17 countries at the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo, Japan.

The conference announced historic investments in energy infrastructure, critical minerals and advanced technologies. One such announcement came from Terra Energy Center, which reached a $1 billion agreement in principle with Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems to provide large-scale coal power plant boilers for a new 1.25 gigawatt project in Alaska.

The announcement of a new coal power plant marks the first investment in new U.S. coal power in more than a decade, following the completion of the last major coal plant, Sandy Creek, a 932-megawatt facility in Texas.

 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum shakes hands with Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa at IPEM 2026.

Beyond backing from the U.S. government, Terra Energy’s new coal power plant received a $500 million equity investment commitment from KOREIT, one of Korea’s largest infrastructure private equity firms.

India Produces 1B MT of Coal

For the second consecutive year, India has produced more than 1 billion metric tons (mt) of coal as of March 20, 2026. The milestone comes as the Indian government has undertaken various steps to raise coal production levels, including commercial coal mining, quickened environmental clearances and faster development of infrastructure meant to facilitate coal logistics.

“India has crossed a monumental 1 billion mt of coal production! With cutting-edge technologies and efficient methods, we’ve not only increased production but also ensured sustainable and responsible mining,” said Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy in an ‘X’ post.

“A proud moment for India!” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in response to the ‘X’ post. “Crossing the monumental milestone of 1 billion mt of coal production is a remarkable achievement, highlighting our commitment to energy security, economic growth and self-reliance. This feat also reflects the dedication and hard work of all those associated with the sector.”

DOI and OSM Expand State Oversight for Coal Mining

The Department of the Interior (DOI) signed an amendment to its cooperative agreement with the State of West Virginia, giving the state expanded authority to regulate coal mining and reclamation on federal lands within its borders. At the same time, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) finalized updates to the Ten-Day Notice rule, removing rigid deadlines for resolving state program issues, allowing states to act efficiently without federal overreach and enabling the agency to use all available information before issuing a notice to ensure accuracy and fairness.

Both actions place further control of coal mining in an individual state’s hands. Previously, West Virginia regulated mining involving privately owned coal tied to federal lands. The amendment now extends that authority to include federally owned coal leased by the Bureau of Land Management, creating a more streamlined regulatory process. Under the revised agreement, West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection will take the lead on permitting, inspections and enforcement for both privately owned and federally leased coal operations in the state. The amendment also updates and clarifies responsibilities among the state, the DOI and other federal agencies involved in activities on federal lands. OSM will maintain federal oversight to ensure compliance with the law and the terms of the agreement.

“By empowering West Virginia to take the lead, we’re streamlining regulations, boosting certainty for coal producers, and supporting jobs and investment that strengthen our economy and energy security,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This amended agreement helps unleash West Virginia’s energy potential and strengthens our ability to lead,” said Governor Morrisey. “Coal mining is woven into the fabric of our state and has powered our communities, our economy and this nation for generations. By expanding West Virginia’s regulatory authority, we are accelerating our 50 by 50 energy initiative to make West Virginia a national energy powerhouse.”

OSM’s action repeals the 2024 rule and reinstates, with improvements, the 2020 rule that emphasized efficiency and state-level expertise, empowering states to manage mining oversight. By streamlining processes and eliminating demanding timelines, the rule ensures that states can address potential violations quickly and effectively without federal mandates.

“This rule strengthens our partnership with states and recognizes their leadership in safeguarding mining practices,” said Lanny E. Erdos, director of OSM. “OSM will continue to provide oversight and guidance and is committed to working side-by side with states to ensure compliance and protect communities.”

The Ten-Day notice rule update took effect on March 23, 2026, and the DOI’s agreement with West Virginia will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.