Cole may be having a comeback in the second Trump presidency.

In April, the president signed executive orders to boost coal extraction, delay rules on emission standards and keep more coal fired plants alive.

This is welcome news to a state Republican lawmaker who successfully passed his own pro coal legislation.

Every bit of power generation is very vital, especially baseload power generation.

So which is coal fired plant, a coal fired electric plants and, and gas powered plants.

So I welcome, the changes in the Trump administration.

The executive orders, I think that, the executive orders actually bring some more balance to, to energy policy in our nation.

I'm not opposed to renewables.

I'm very much interested in all of the above approach.

But, you know, my concern has always been these next 15 years or so until we can actually make a transition, if there is a need to make a transition.

We've got a major, power shortage that is going to hamper our economy and our state and ultimately affect our, our lifestyles and jobs in the state of Kentucky.

Coal power is and makes money for Kentucky, but it also produces emissions and particles that can harm those living near coal fired plants.

According to New York Times reporting, Trump's Environmental Protection Agency wants to eliminate emission standards on coal fired plants.

And this week, he ordered a coal plant in Michigan to keep running, even though the utility and state regulators plan to close it.

If we take a specific example that we know that they have ordered the extension of life of a individual coal plants in Michigan, and we have coal plants here that are retiring or due to be retired in the next couple of years.

And if that same action were taken, not only would it extend the life of those emissions that we know harm human health.

The decision to close those coal plants was generally an economic decision, not just because of those emissions.

So it's not only going to hurt human health long term, it's also going to drive up electricity rates.

Coal is the leading power source in Kentucky, but natural gas consumption is catching up.

More coal fired plants are going offline as more natural gas power plants come online in the state.