McLennan attends White House executive order signing

Minnkota CEO Mac McLennan and other electric cooperative leaders joined President Donald Trump at the White House on April 9 as he unveiled a series of executive orders aimed at safeguarding critical coal-based power plants and other reliable generation resources.

“We commend the administration for recognizing the importance of a reliable and resilient electric grid and for embracing an all-of-the-above energy strategy to meet the demands of our growing, data-driven world,” McLennan said. “Coal remains a vital part of that mix, providing dependable, around-the-clock power. As electricity usage continues to rise, especially with the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure, it’s essential to invest in technologies that support and strengthen coal’s role on the grid.

That commitment will be key to ensuring a stable and secure energy future for our nation.” The four orders signed by the President follow his national energy emergency declaration issued on his first day in office.

The actions include:

• Emergency authority for grid reliability: The Department of Energy (DOE) has 90 days to create a process for issuing emergency orders to maintain operation of power plants in areas at risk of grid instability.

• EPA mercury rule exemptions: Coal-based power plants may request a two-year exemption from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mercury emission standards. Under the Clean Air Act, the President can grant such exemptions if the required technology is not yet available and if it serves a national security interest. Minnkota's Milton R. Young Station has received approval for this exemption.

• Legal challenge to state-level climate policies: The Attorney General is directed to review and potentially challenge state energy or climate laws that conflict with federal authority.

• Support for coal infrastructure and AI development: The DOE, Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce are directed to identify regions where coal infrastructure can support emerging industries, such as AI data centers, within 60 days.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson praised the administration’s focus on energy reliability.

“These announcements help drive home smart energy policies that will support efforts to keep the lights on at a price families and businesses can afford,” Matheson said. “We thank the administration for recognizing the continued importance of always-available resources in the nation’s energy mix.”

Nationwide, 79 coal units are fully or partially owned by 31 NRECA member cooperatives, underscoring the continued reliance on coal in many parts of the country.

Minnkota and its cooperative partner Square Butte Electric Cooperative own and operate the Young Station in North Dakota, which serves as the backbone of its power supply mix. While Minnkota opposes harmful overregulation, it remains committed to environmental stewardship. Approximately $425 million has been invested in modern emission control technologies at the Young Station, which meet all current air quality standards. Wind and hydropower make up about 40% of the cooperative’s generation capacity.

EPA deregulatory efforts underway

Just weeks before the White House event, McLennan also addressed shifting regulatory dynamics during a panel at NRECA’s annual PowerXchange conference. There, he discussed recent moves by the EPA to reverse several regulations impacting the power sector.

Among the 31 actions from EPA, the announcement includes the reconsideration of greenhouse gas regulations, coal combustion residuals rules and mercury standards for power plants, as well as a restructuring of the regional haze program. These rules had the strong potential to prematurely push reliable coal-based power plants offline at a time when grid reliability issues are beginning to emerge.

Additionally, the EPA signaled its intention to revisit the 2009 “endangerment finding” that forms the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act – a move that could further reshape national climate policy.

While the proposed rollbacks represent a substantial shift in direction, the full implementation will require lengthy rulemaking processes and is likely to face ongoing legal challenges.

Header image: McLennan stands outside the White House with former BNI Coal employee Dean Affolter, who attended the event as a guest of his son Shawn, who is a DOE employee.