Coal is a very flexible fuel and we don't have to buy it outside the country.
I think it's just lip services because so many unions (including my own ILA) are tied up in coal in some battleground states. Going back to the SF Chronical piece, he said he intends to bankrupt the coal facilities and I see no reason why that still isn't his intent in the long run. It's like Feinstein 'picking the right time and place' for assault weapons ban. They're just being 'coy' for now.
Our President promised to bankrupt the coal industry through high taxation of the coal industry, also promised US “skyrocketing electric bills”. From his own mouth.