Rapid growth in electricity demand, driven by data centers, artificial intelligence, and industrial expansion, is coinciding with large-scale retirements of baseload power generation. Against that backdrop, the reestablishment of the National Coal Council (NCC) represents a clear-eyed reassessment by the Trump Administration of coal’s critical importance to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
This renewed appreciation for coal was on clear display at the Council’s inaugural meeting last week, where Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum emphasized that coal is a core strategic asset essential to meeting electricity demand growth and maintaining grid reliability.
When this administration entered office, roughly 100 gigawatts of firm, dispatchable generating capacity was slated for retirement, largely due to past policies designed to accelerate a transition to renewables. At the NCC meeting, Secretary Wright stressed that reversing these premature retirements is essential, warning that they erode reliability, raise electricity prices, and push industry and economic activity overseas.
Utilities are beginning to internalize that lesson, and many companies are reconsidering earlier retirement decisions as they confront accelerating load growth and a growing risk of electricity shortages. Emergency actions by the Department of Energy have helped prevent the loss of critical coal capacity, but administration officials are clear that these temporary measures are not a long-term solution.
The scale of the challenge is substantial. Nearly one-third of the coal fleet – roughly 57 gigawatts – is scheduled to retire by the end of the decade absent major policy changes, with more than half of the fleet facing retirement by the mid-2030s. That capacity represents power that can support dozens of data centers and the infrastructure required for advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
Both Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum view coal as essential to accelerating innovation and strengthening national security, warning that the United States cannot win the global AI race without coal. Looking ahead, administration leaders emphasize the need for durable solutions to keep the coal fleet operating longer. That includes targeted federal investment to support operations and maintenance, modernization of existing plants, and regulatory reforms to remove barriers to essential upgrades.
The reestablished NCC provides a forum to bring technical expertise and real-world operating experience into these policy discussions. As demand growth accelerates and reliability concerns intensify, the message from the administration is clear: without coal, the United States is not competitive. Keeping the coal fleet strong is central to maintaining affordable power, supporting innovation, and safeguarding America’s economic and national security future. America’s Power is honored to be represented on the NCC and looks forward to participating in and contributing to these important discussions.