President Trump has kept to his word about bringing back the coal industry:

“We have ended the war on American energy, and we have ended the war on beautiful, clean coal,” 

The number of coal mining jobs have increased since he has taken office. Trump thinks the reasoning behind the growth are the changes in federal policies. However, the analysts disagree. They state the most prominent reason for 2017 coal growth is the unseasonably cold weather and the rising price of natural gas during these months. Most of the coal was exported. Another way Trump plans to bring back the coal industry is by imposing a 30% tariff on imported solar panels. Once again, the experts disagree with his reasoning. Hans Daniels, the CEO of Doyle Trading Consultants, said that coals largest competitor isn’t the solar and wind powers, it is the natural gas and fracking that are cutting into the industry. Renewable resources only make up 7% of the power grid with coal and natural gas make up the remaining portion. 

Hans Daniels said

“Anything that helps natural gas tends to hurt coal, and vice versa,” 

Trump has been outwardly friendly to the coal industry, but he has also been just as friendly with the natural gas industry. The growth of the coal industry is expected to fall again as consumers want cheaper energy options such as natural gas.