The Department of Energy (DOE) has taken steps to support the coal industry, following directives from President Trump’s administration. The DOE reinstated the National Coal Council (NCC), which had been terminated in 2021, and held its inaugural meeting on January 15, 2026. Jim Grech of Peabody Energy Corp. was appointed as Committee Chair, with Jimmy Brock of Core Natural Resources serving as Vice Chair.
The NCC is intended to serve as an advisory body, providing expert guidance on coal technologies and markets. Its membership includes individuals from industry, academia, state and tribal governments, and non-governmental organizations.
According to the DOE, these actions are part of a broader effort to strengthen the role of coal in U.S. energy production. “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.”
Recent initiatives include a closed loan announced on October 29, 2025, supporting a coal-powered fertilizer facility in West Terre Haute, Indiana. On September 29, 2025, the DOE allocated $625 million to expand the coal industry under Executive Orders aimed at revitalizing clean coal and strengthening grid reliability.
On April 8, 2025, Secretary Wright introduced five initiatives to modernize the coal sector and support new technologies. These included reinstating the NCC and making $200 billion available for long-term financing of infrastructure upgrades.
In May 2025, DOE designated steel-making coal as a critical material. The National Energy Technology Laboratory developed technology for extracting minerals from coal ash for use in various industries. Partnerships have also been formed with national laboratories and private companies to commercialize these conversion technologies.
A July 7, 2025 report by DOE indicated that losing more coal plants could threaten grid reliability due to increased reliance on intermittent sources like wind and solar amid rising electricity demand from data centers. The report projected that by 2030 an additional 100 GW of peak supply would be needed but only a small portion would come from firm generation sources.
“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.”
To maintain grid stability and prevent outages, DOE has issued several emergency orders preventing closures or extending operations at key power plants across multiple states including Colorado, Indiana, Washington State, and Michigan during late 2025.
“The Trump Administration and DOE have issued 19 emergency orders to secure the U.S. power grid and prevent unnecessary power outages, including preventing the closure of five reliable coal power plants.”
These measures reflect ongoing federal efforts under current administration policies to prioritize domestic energy security through continued use of existing fossil fuel resources.
