This article originally appeared in the Washington Times May 2025 Energy Special Edition
A strong economy rests on its ability to meet consumer demands. Similarly, the measure of a strong power grid is its ability to reliably meet the demand for electricity. America is now seeing unprecedented growth in electricity demand, and our economic and national security interests depend on our ability to meet this demand.
Over the past three decades, our economic progress has had a lot to do with our ability to harness the power and potential of the internet. In the decades to come, it will be artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing. These technologies will drive innovation and growth in fields like health care, information technology, defense, and infrastructure, but they require a reliable supply of electricity.
Data centers currently account for 3% of America’s electricity demand, but that is expected to increase to 8% by 2030 due to AI. These relatively small percentages are misleading because by 2035, the electricity required for American data centers will be the equivalent of adding another California to the nation’s electricity supply.
Despite this demand growth, past administrations have promoted policies that have made our grid less reliable and our electricity less affordable. They have attempted to eliminate badly needed energy options like coal, one of our nation’s most abundant and reliable sources of electricity, and curtail others like natural gas. These policies have caused electricity officials to issue warnings about possible electricity shortages.
Last winter’s polar vortex pushed U.S. electricity demand to an historic level. On the peak day of the storm when electricity demand peaked, coal and natural gas provided more than 80% of the additional electricity that kept homes and businesses warm and safe. These are the same fuels the previous administration did not like. On the other hand, the preferred electricity sources of the previous administration wind and solar provided slightly more than 3% of the additional electricity. During this period, the use of coal also helped save consumers in 13 states and the District of Columbia $500 million to $1.4 billion.
Even though more electricity is needed, 117 coal plants are set to close over the next five years. These retiring plants could power 1,000 or more hyperscale data centers. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) issued a report last December warning that more than half of the United States is at risk of electricity shortages. Recognizing this growing threat to our electricity supply, President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office. The declaration underscored the essential role that reliable and affordable energy plays in our national economy and national security. It also opened the door to a number of other important actions that the administration is now undertaking.
In February, the president established the National Energy Dominance Council, an interagency panel that is focused on improving the permitting, distribution, and regulation of all forms of American energy including coal. The United States has the largest coal reserves in the world, even more than China, so it makes sense that we should take advantage of this resource, not abandon it.
The Trump administration is also taking other steps to undo the damage to the American energy sector under the Biden administration. Last month, the EPA announced it is reconsidering a number of EPA rules including President Biden’s Clean Power Plan 2.0. The Biden Clean Power Plan was designed to force the closure of coal-fired power plants, despite objections from electricity officials that the rule would make our electricity grid less reliable.
Earlier this month, the President announced a number of executive actions to help ensure that coal can play a role in addressing our national energy emergency and strengthen the reliability of the electricity grid. As part of these actions, federal agencies have been ordered to rescind policies that transition the country away from coal production or otherwise discriminate against the use of coal-powered electricity. The secretary of energy has also been directed to expedite the use of orders that will ensure needed generating capacity is available during emergencies.
The cumulative impact of these steps will be a healthy electricity grid capable of delivering reliable and affordable electricity to American homes and businesses. A healthy grid will in turn ensure that the American economy can grow, and the United States can improve its competitive position in global markets.
With more AI breakthroughs on the horizon and the increased electrification of everything from vehicles to household appliances, it will be more important than ever that the U.S. have a growing energy sector. This will require a true ’all of the above’ strategy that acknowledges the strengths and limitations of a variety of electricity sources including renewables and fossil fuels like coal.
While Biden administration policymakers rejected coal, our geopolitical rivals continue to embrace it. Today, China’s fleet of coal-fired power plants is more than six times larger than the U.S. fleet, and China is increasing the size of its fleet because it sees coal as critical to achieving economic success.
America has ample natural resources to compete and win. The question until now has been are we going to leverage these resources? Under President Trump, it is clear that we will. And Americans can look forward to an energy-secure America as a result.