The Department of Energy (DOE) has taken steps to reinforce the role of coal in the U.S. energy sector, following directives from President Trump’s administration. The agency recently reinstated the National Coal Council (NCC), which had been dissolved by the previous administration in 2021. The NCC serves as an advisory group providing guidance on coal technologies and markets, and its membership includes representatives from industry, academia, state and tribal organizations, and non-governmental groups.
On January 15, 2026, the NCC held its first meeting since being reestablished. Jim Grech of Peabody Energy Corp. was appointed Committee Chair, while Jimmy Brock of Core Natural Resources became Vice Chair.
Secretary Wright has highlighted DOE’s commitment to supporting coal as a reliable and affordable source of energy for the United States. “DOE and Secretary Wright are fully committed to strengthening coal’s role in powering the U.S., as it provides around-the-clock reliable, and affordable energy,” according to the department.
Recent DOE actions include financial support for a coal-powered fertilizer facility in West Terre Haute, Indiana, through a closed loan announced on October 29, 2025. On September 29, 2025, DOE announced $625 million aimed at expanding America’s coal industry under Executive Orders intended to revitalize clean coal production and strengthen grid reliability.
In April 2025, Secretary Wright introduced five initiatives designed to modernize the coal sector and promote new technologies. These efforts included making $200 billion available in low-cost financing for infrastructure upgrades across various projects. In May 2025, DOE designated steelmaking coal as a critical material.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of DOE, developed technology for extracting minerals from coal ash—a process that could turn byproducts into valuable materials used in several industries. DOE is working with national laboratories and private companies to commercialize these conversion technologies.
A July 7, 2025 report from DOE warned that closing more power plants—especially those using coal—could jeopardize grid reliability due to increasing dependence on intermittent sources like wind and solar amid growing demand from data centers. The report projected that current trends could increase outage risks by a factor of one hundred by 2030 unless additional firm generation capacity is added.
As a result of these policies and interventions, over 15 gigawatts of planned coal-plant retirements were reversed in 2025.
The department has also issued multiple emergency orders to keep specific plants operational and maintain grid stability. For example:
– On December 30, 2025: An order kept Unit 1 at Craig Station in Colorado running.
– On December 23: Orders ensured continued operation at F.B. Culley Generating Station (Indiana) and Schahfer Generating Station (Indiana).
– On December 16: An order directed TransAlta to keep Centralia Generating station’s Unit 2 (Washington) available.
– Additional orders extended operations at J.H Campbell plant via coordination with regional operators throughout summer months.
According to DOE statements: “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, coal plants across the country are reversing plans to shut down. In 2025, more than 15 gigawatts of coal-power electricity generation were saved.”
The department reported issuing nineteen emergency orders during this period focused on securing grid reliability by preventing unnecessary outages or closures among key facilities.
