President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to increase long-term purchases of electricity from coal-fired power plants, framing the move as a boost to energy security and grid reliability.
The order instructs the military to seek power from the U.S. coal generation fleet to provide financial stability to coal plants facing competition from natural gas and renewables.
The Department of Energy announced $175 million for six projects in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky, while Trump said more than 70 new coal mining permits have been approved during his presidency.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) indefinitely extended the operation of two coal plants previously set to retire in 2026 and 2028, aligning with the administration’s push.
Despite federal support, coal use has dropped significantly since peaking in 2007, accounting for about 20% of U.S. electricity generation in 2022, as utilities increasingly shift to natural gas and renewable energy.
President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to increase its purchases of electricity generated by coal-fired power plants to bolster the struggling fossil fuel industry and strengthen the nation’s energy security.
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