Washington: United States President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to purchase electricity generated by coal-fired power plants, in a fresh move aimed at reviving demand for the fossil fuel despite its declining competitiveness and climate concerns.
In an executive order signed, Trump instructed the US Department of Defence to enter into long-term agreements with coal-fired facilities and prioritise the preservation and strategic utilisation of coal-based energy assets. The order did not specify the volume of electricity to be procured or the financial terms of the agreements.
Speaking at a White House event attended by coal industry executives and miners, Trump praised the sector’s contribution to the American economy. Alongside the Pentagon directive, Trump announced that the US Department of Energy would invest $175 million to upgrade six coal plants located in North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.
Coal’s shrinking share
Coal production in the United States has declined sharply over the past two decades due to increasing competition from natural gas and renewable energy sources such as wind, hydropower and solar.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, coal output fell by more than half between 2008 and 2023, reaching 578 million tonnes in 2023. The fuel accounted for around 16 percent of US energy production that year, compared with 43 percent for natural gas and 21 percent for renewables.
A 2023 analysis by Energy Innovation, a California-based nonprofit, found that 99 percent of US coal plants were more expensive to operate than replacing them with renewable alternatives.
‘Beautiful, clean coal’
Trump has repeatedly promoted what he calls ‘beautiful, clean coal’ as central to strengthening domestic manufacturing and supporting US ambitions in sectors such as artificial intelligence.
The president, who initiated the US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and has previously questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, declared an ‘energy emergency’ on his first day in office aimed at preventing the retirement of ageing coal plants.
Since that declaration, the US Energy Department has reportedly required at least five coal plants to extend operations beyond their scheduled closure dates. On the same day as the executive order, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the largest public utility in the US, voted to extend the lifespan of two coal plants previously slated for closure by 2035.
The vote followed changes to the TVA board, which last month added four Trump appointees after the president dismissed three members selected by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The latest measures underscore the administration’s renewed push to stabilise and expand coal usage, even as market trends and environmental pressures continue to weigh on the industry.
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