President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a sweeping plan to tie America’s coal industry directly to national defense.
Trump signed an executive order that directs the Department of War (DOW) to enter long-term power purchasing agreements with coal-fired power plants. Trump said the move is a strategic shift designed to shore up the nation’s electric grid and reinforce military readiness.
“That’s why I’m also pleased to announce that, in just a moment, I will sign an executive order that directs the Department of War to work directly with coal plants on the new power purchasing agreements, ensuring that we have more reliable power and stronger and more resilient grid power,” Trump said, according to Fox News.
The order declares that coal plays a central role in safeguarding the country’s economic and national security. In a section titled “Power Purchase Agreements with Federal Installations,” the directive instructs the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, to secure electricity from the U.S. coal generation fleet through long-term agreements that will supply DOW bases and other mission-critical facilities.
Trump said the military will dramatically increase its coal purchases under the plan.
“We’re going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now, and it’s going to be less expensive and actually much more effective than what we have been using for many, many years,” he said.
The president said the initiative is both a cost-saving measure and a national security imperative. By locking in long-term contracts with domestic coal producers, the administration aims to provide predictable demand for coal plants while shielding military installations from grid instability and energy shortfalls.
The Trump administration moved to keep coal plants operating after declaring a national energy emergency, saying that reliable baseload power is critical to preventing blackouts during extreme weather. Administration officials linked coal-fired power to grid stability as surging demand from data centers, artificial intelligence systems, and expanding manufacturing operations puts increasing pressure on the nation’s electricity supply.
The Department of Energy outlined the administration’s broader effort to remove regulatory barriers and sustain coal-fired power as part of a push to strengthen grid reliability and advance American energy dominance. This priority was underscored during January’s Winter Storm Fern when fossil fuels carried much of the grid’s load. New England relied more on oil than natural gas despite abundant domestic gas supplies.
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