Peace Garden News

Senator John Hoeven has responded to a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which overturned a previous ruling that reinstated an Obama-era moratorium on coal leasing for federal lands. Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, expressed his support for the court's decision.

"Our state and nation depend on the affordable and reliable electricity provided by our coal industry," Hoeven stated. He criticized the lower court's decision to reinstate the moratorium, suggesting it was detrimental when combined with what he described as "the Biden administration’s Green New Deal agenda." Hoeven argued that these policies undermine a critical source of baseload power. He welcomed the appeals court's ruling, stating it aligns with efforts to maximize the use of U.S. coal reserves, which he believes are vital for grid reliability and national energy security.

Hoeven has been actively involved in opposing restrictions on coal leasing. During President Trump's administration, he supported efforts to rescind the federal coal lease moratorium. Last year, he sponsored legislation aimed at preventing any president from imposing moratoria on leasing and permitting for energy and mineral resources, including coal, on federal lands.

Hoeven continues to advocate for utilizing all available energy resources in the U.S., while also resisting mandates from President Biden's administration that he views as burdensome.