"Mine, Baby, Mine!@POTUS made it a top priority for @Interior to unleash Beautiful, Clean Coal and @OSMRE is leading the charge! Learn more about how @OSMRE is advancing @POTUS' American Energy Dominance Agenda from their new spokesperson, Coalie! https://t.co/o62HdCRAsO pic.twitter.com/yWR4DvHVHW - Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) January 22, 2026"
""started off as a kind of joke""
""OSMRE is a very small bureau-we're not parks, we're not Fish and Wildlife. It's not a household name," says Eckert."
"Cute, for sure, but also criticized as a "lethal mascot for dirty energy," a "cheerful mouthpiece for several dubious claims," and a "middle finger, in a way" to people who care about the health of people working in and living near mines."
Coalie is an anthropomorphic lump of coal created as a mascot for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). The mascot began in 2018 when a social media manager added googly eyes, and coworkers later added a pointing finger, hard hat, and boots. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted Coalie on social media in January, promoting "Beautiful, Clean Coal" on behalf of President Trump. The post and mascot drew criticism labeling Coalie a "lethal mascot for dirty energy," a "cheerful mouthpiece for several dubious claims," and a "middle finger" to communities concerned about mining health impacts. OSMRE says the mascot aims to raise public awareness of the bureau and its reclamation and reforestation work.
Read at Washingtonian - The website that Washington lives by.
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