Washington, D.C. – The National Coal Council (NCC) today released “Maximizing the Value of the U.S. Coal Fleet,” a report finding that greater reliance on the nation’s coal fleet could enable the United States to respond to rapidly growing electricity demand while strengthening grid reliability and protecting ratepayers from higher costs.
The report concludes that the more than 370 coal-fueled generating units operating across 37 states represent one of the nation’s most immediate and valuable sources of additional electricity. It calls on the U.S. Department of Energy, other federal agencies, grid operators, and Congress to prevent premature retirements, modernize the existing fleet, and ensure that policies properly value reliability, affordability, and fuel security.
“Running existing coal plants at historic capacity utilization levels could satisfy several years of growth for the U.S. grid and, by itself, solve much of our near-term electricity crunch,” said Jim Grech, NCC Chair and President and CEO of Peabody Energy, who helped lead development of the report. “Proven U.S. coal reserves are larger than any other nation’s single energy reserves – larger than all the oil in Saudi Arabia and all the natural gas in Russia. We should be taking full advantage of this extraordinary American asset to propel our economy and improve the lives of Americans.”
The report, along with a companion report, “Outlook and Opportunities for U.S. Coal Exports,” was accepted by the U.S. Department of Energy today at the NCC meeting in Washington, D.C. The NCC was reconstituted in June 2025 with Jim Grech as Chair and Core Natural Resources Chairman and CEO Jimmy Brock as Vice Chair. It includes more than 60 members across the coal value chain and related stakeholder groups.
U.S. Coal Generation: The Key to Expanding the Supply of Low-Cost, Reliable Electricity
Electricity demand is rising rapidly as artificial intelligence, data centers, advanced manufacturing, electrification, and broader economic growth place new pressure on our nation’s electricity grid. The report finds that increasing the output of existing coal plants to levels they have achieved historically could satisfy years of projected demand growth, promoting economic growth and strengthening national security.
“This report makes clear that preserving and better utilizing our existing coal fleet is one of the simplest, fastest, and most affordable ways to help meet growing electricity demand,” said Michelle Bloodworth, Chair of the National Coal Council Electricity Subcommittee and President and CEO of America’s Power. “Allowing dependable coal power plants to retire while electricity demand is accelerating would worsen an already difficult problem and strain families and businesses across the country. For example, the report estimates that replacing only a portion of the existing coal fleet with wind and solar resources could cost ratepayers an additional $3 billion or more per year. We should be strengthening the dependable resources we already have, not forcing them off the grid.”
Coal Provides Reliability When the Grid Needs It Most
The report shows that coal power plants operate around the clock regardless of weather conditions, maintain substantial fuel stockpiles on site, and provide essential reliability attributes that many other electricity sources cannot supply consistently.
The coal fleet has repeatedly demonstrated its value by keeping homes warm and electricity rates lower during periods of extreme weather. In fact, the report explains that the U.S. coal fleet saved ratepayers more than $1 billion the day Winter Storm Fern peaked in January 2026. In addition, the fleet responded to the freezing weather by increasing its electricity output more than any other source that day.
These capabilities are becoming more valuable as electricity demand grows and dependable power plants continue to face pressure to retire.
Report Recommendations
The report provides 19 recommendations that, taken together, represent a strategy to preserve, modernize, and grow the nation’s coal fleet to maintain a reliable grid and an ample and affordable supply of electricity. The recommendations fall into four categories:
- Reforming regulations and providing greater policy certainty, including changes to EPA regulations, streamlined federal coal leasing, and congressional action to establish a more predictable regulatory environment.
- Reforming electricity markets and creating appropriate incentives, including minimum offer price rules, expanded reliability-must-run agreements, proper valuation of reliability attributes, and incenting bilateral contracts between large electricity loads and existing coal plants.
- Providing financial support for the coal fleet and its supply chain, including DOE grants and loans, federal power purchase agreements, and investments in critical infrastructure.
- Supporting the development of new coal plants through grants and loan guarantees and by identifying and removing regulatory, financial, and other barriers to constructing new plants.
The report also recommends that DOE establish a system to track implementation of the recommendations, with the NCC prepared to assist in that effort.
Additional details can be found in the report which is posted HERE.