“This law is one step forward and two steps back,” said one environmentalist.

The Northern Cheyenne Reservation sits atop the Powder River Basin, which holds 40 percent of the U.S. coal supply.

In order to extend through 2019, the tribe still needs the approval of two-thirds of the full council.

While many have taken a hard stance against the president and his pro-fossil fuel agenda, others are hoping he follows through.

It was the year three California counties banned fracking, a tribe beat big oil and more.

City Council cited climate change and the health of its marginalized communities as reasons for keeping coal out of its new export plant.