The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved opening up Montana for more coal leasing after the state’s congressional delegation introduced a resolution in July to repeal 2024 federal restrictions.

The resolution would overturn a Biden-era decision that halted new federal coal leases in the Powder River Basin as part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Montana and Wyoming basin accounts for roughly 85% of all federal coal mined in the United States and 40% of all national coal production. Montana has the largest coal reserves in the nation.

“The Biden Administration’s outright ban on coal leasing in the Powder River Basin is an intolerable threat to domestic energy production, U.S. national security and the prosperity of the communities I represen

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