Trump Pushes for '100% Open' US Coal Plants

Trump administration officials have declared a clear policy goal: keeping the nation's coal-fired power plants fully operational to meet rising electricity demand and fuel an industrial revival.

"The goal is 100% open," stated Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. "That's the standard we're operating against."

This directive was announced during the first meeting of the National Coal Council, an advisory panel revived by President Donald Trump after being left inactive under Joe Biden. The move is a cornerstone of Trump's second-term energy strategy, which seeks to reverse the long-term decline of the coal industry.

While the administration projects a bullish future for coal, many analysts remain skeptical, pointing to the persistent economic advantages of natural gas and renewable energy. This policy push also comes as the administration confronts rising electricity prices, a critical issue for voters ahead of the November elections.

A Multi-Front Strategy to Boost Coal

The administration is moving aggressively to support coal through a series of regulatory and executive actions. These efforts include:

• Rolling back regulations and subsidies that previously favored emissions-free renewable power.

• Issuing emergency orders through the Energy Department to force certain coal plants to continue operating.

• Blocking state-level closures, as seen when the Environmental Protection Agency rejected a proposal from Colorado to shut down a coal plant.

• Expanding access to resources by opening more federal land for coal leasing in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted the immediate impact of these policies. "Seventeen gigawatts of coal generation are open today that would not have been open," he said, crediting the emergency orders. "You will not see those coal plants close during this administration."

Wright added that utilities are now proactively contacting the Energy Department to keep their plants online, even as some states advocate for their closure. Burgum, who leads the National Energy Dominance Council, went a step further, predicting the construction of new coal plants—a possibility most industry analysts have dismissed.

Market Realities vs. Policy Ambitions

The renewed National Coal Council, which met to discuss strategies for maintaining and expanding the US coal fleet, is packed with industry heavyweights. The panel of roughly 60 members includes executives from top producers like Peabody Energy, Warrior Met Coal Inc., Hallador Energy Co., and Nacco Industries Inc. Other members include utility FirstEnergy Corp., railroad Norfolk Southern Corp., and Trump donor Joe Craft, CEO of Alliance Resource Partners. The group is chaired by Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech and vice-chaired by Jimmy Brock, CEO of Core Natural Resources Inc.

Despite this unified industry front, coal faces steep market challenges. Once the source of over half the country's electricity, coal's share fell to approximately 17% in 2025 and is forecast to drop to 15% this year as utilities favor cheaper natural gas and renewables.

However, a recent surge in US electricity demand has given coal producers a temporary boost. Utilities have delayed some plant retirements, and federal orders have kept others running. This, combined with higher gas prices, led to a 13% increase in electric generation from coal last year. Government forecasts, however, predict the downward trend will resume in 2026.

Linking Coal to National Security and the Economy

Administration officials are framing the pro-coal policy as essential to broader national goals. During the council meeting, executives warned against over-reliance on natural gas and stressed the need to protect American mines and control electricity prices.

Wright connected a healthy coal sector to a thriving manufacturing base. Burgum linked it directly to the strategic competition with China over artificial intelligence, arguing that reliable power is critical to winning the AI race.

A New Battleground: The Fight Over ESG Investing

The effort to support coal has also extended to the financial sector. Wright warned that a court-ordered divestment of coal assets by the world's largest asset managers could severely undermine the industry.

This concern stems from a lawsuit led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc., and the asset management division of State Street Corp. The suit alleges that the firms violated antitrust laws by colluding through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives to suppress coal production.

Fossil fuel advocates have long criticized ESG principles for steering capital away from oil, gas, and coal. Former Trump Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry estimated that a successful lawsuit could force the firms to sell off $18 billion in coal holdings. He warned such an outcome would pose "a direct threat to coal companies' ability to raise capital, finance infrastructure and support jobs."