Get more electricity from coal, Trump tells Department of Defense

"President Trump in an executive order directed the Department of Defense to buy electricity from coal-fired power plants, reviving a fuel source in sharp decline. Coal's share of U.S. electricity generation has plummeted from 50% in 2000 to roughly 17% in 2025 as natural gas and renewables gain ground. Coal is relatively inexpensive to produce but is considered the dirtiest fossil fuel, releasing soot air pollution and nearly twice the planet-warming carbon dioxide as natural gas."

"President Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order directing the Department of War, formerly the Department of Defense, to buy electricity from coal-fired power plants. He also announced new funding to restart and upgrade coal plants in several states. The executive order directs Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to enter into long-term contracts with coal-fired plants to serve military installations and facilities."

"Hundreds of coal plants have closed in the United States in recent years as inexpensive and cleaner natural gas and renewables became super-abundant. Coal is relatively inexpensive to produce but is the dirtiest fossil fuel, releasing considerable particulate air pollution, sulfur dioxide and mercury, and nearly twice the planet-warming carbon dioxide as natural gas."

An executive order directs the Department of War, formerly the Department of Defense, to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants and to enter long-term contracts to serve military installations. The order names Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as responsible for implementing the contracts. The Department of Energy will provide $175 million for six projects to extend and upgrade coal-fired plants in rural communities including West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Hundreds of U.S. coal plants have closed as natural gas and renewables expanded. Coal remains inexpensive to produce but generates heavy particulate pollution and nearly twice the carbon dioxide of natural gas.

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