West Virginia awarded $140.7 million for abandoned coal mine restoration

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — The U.S. Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has announced that $140.7 million in fiscal year 2025 funding has been awarded to West Virginia.

Part of President Trump’s “America First” energy agenda, the funding will be used to clean up abandoned coal mines, eliminate mine hazards, restore clean water access and transform abandoned lands into “economic engines.”

Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess is looking forward to the cleanup efforts.

“This is about unleashing new opportunities and putting people back to work,” Suess said in a press release. “These grants are proof that we can clean up the past while building a stronger energy future.”

In addition to West Virginia, other states receiving top awards include:

• Pennsylvania — $244.8 million
• Illinois — $75.7 million
• Kentucky — 74.2 million
• Ohio — $46.4 million
• Navajo Nation — $1.7 million

You can see a full list of recipients and find more information here.