Upcoming auctions in Alabama, Utah, and Montana are intended to expand coal production under federal oversight.
The Department of the Interior announced plans for three competitive coal lease sales this fall in Alabama, Utah, and Montana. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will auction two tracts in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, totaling about 14,050 acres and estimated to hold 53 million tons of metallurgical coal. In Utah, the bureau will offer the Little Eccles Tract in Emery County, which spans about 120 acres and contains 1.29 million tons of coal. A separate sale in Big Horn County, Montana, will include roughly 1,262 acres with an estimated 167.5 million tons of recoverable coal.
“Coal has long been the backbone of America’s energy and industrial strength,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “By moving forward with these lease sales, we are creating good-paying jobs, supporting local communities, and securing the resources that keep America strong…”
Each sale follows federal review and public comment periods and requires winning bidders to pay fair market value and obtain all necessary permits before mining. The lease auctions are scheduled between September 30 and October 6, 2025, with instructions available through the Federal Register and the bureau’s online resources.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Secretary Burgum as he advocates for coal leasing and development.
- For U.S. Interior Department officials as they collaborate with the U.S. Energy Department on sources of energy.
Sources: Department of the Interior, UPI News
