In a recent interview with Bloomberg Television, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the need to halt the closure of coal-fired power plants, stating that retiring these facilities has “made electricity more expensive and our grid less stable.” His remarks underscore the ongoing importance of coal in ensuring reliable, affordable power and align with President Donald Trump’s recent address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he highlighted coal’s resilience as a source of electricity.
With electricity demand surging due to data centers, AI, and a resurgence in domestic manufacturing, the premature shutdown of coal plants threatens grid reliability. However, more than 120 coal plants are set to close within five years due in large part to federal regulations advanced under the previous Administration, jeopardizing jobs, economic growth, and our ability to power the industries of the future. America’s Power President and CEO Michelle Bloodworth was quoted in Bloomberg saying that, “Many of these coal plants are being shut down because bad policies have made them uneconomic.”
Secretary Wright’s comments signal early momentum towards reversing these harmful policies and protecting coal’s critical role in our country’s electricity mix. We agree with him that we need “to stop the closure of coal power plants” and that “no one has won by that action,” and we are optimistic that the new Administration will continue to pursue a return to responsible energy policies.
You can watch an excerpt of Secretary Wright’s interview here: Energy Secretary Chris Wright Highlights Need for Coal Electricity
We encourage you to read Bloomberg’s coverage of the interview: US Energy Chief Says America Should Stop Closing Coal Plants