President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Department of War to prioritize long-term electricity purchases from coal-fired power plants, framing the move as essential to national defense and grid reliability.
The order, titled Strengthening National Defense With Reliable Coal Power, instructs the Pentagon to secure “on-demand baseload power” for military installations through contracts with coal facilities, ensuring defense and intelligence operations have uninterrupted access to electricity.
The order also calls for the Department of Energy to coordinate with the Pentagon to identify plants capable of providing reliable power in the event of grid failures or national emergencies.
Speaking at what the White House billed as The Champion of Coal Event, Trump was joined by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, and a group of miners and coal executives.
He praised coal as America’s most dependable energy source and said the new policy would “strengthen national security and protect the homeland.”
“The most important people here today are those who get their hands a little bit dirty to keep America running at full speed,” Trump said from the East Room of the White House. “Coal is the most reliable and dependable energy we have, and we’re bringing it back stronger than ever.”
The president said the directive ensures “more reliable power and a stronger, more resilient grid,” describing coal as a cornerstone of military readiness. Under the order, the Pentagon will enter long-term power purchase agreements with coal producers to prevent interruptions in power at bases and other critical infrastructure.
Trump also announced that the Department of Energy will distribute $175 million to fund upgrades at six coal plants in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The White House said the investments will modernize older facilities, expand on-site fuel storage, and improve resilience against blackouts.
The president joked that his administration has banned the word coal unless preceded by “beautiful” and “clean.” At the event, the Washington Coal Club presented Trump with the Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal award, recognizing his support for the industry.
The announcement builds on Trump’s April order, which reopened federal lands for coal mining, lifted permitting restrictions, and designated coal as a strategic mineral. That earlier order also directed the Department of Energy to study the potential use of coal-fired power for artificial intelligence data centers, citing its ability to deliver consistent base-load energy.
Trump has made energy independence a core focus of his second term. He declared a National Energy Emergency on his first day back in office and has repeatedly argued that “America must be energy dominant.” At Wednesday’s event, he portrayed the order as both a strategic and patriotic decision.
“We are making sure that our great military never goes dark,” Trump said. “We’re using America’s resources—our beautiful, clean coal—to keep the lights on, keep our factories running, and keep our people safe.”
The directive represents one of the most significant reversals of the Biden administration’s energy priorities. During President Biden’s tenure, the Environmental Protection Agency pursued strict emissions limits and encouraged utilities to transition away from coal toward renewables. Trump has called those policies “job killers” and said they weakened America’s energy security.
Under Trump’s first and second terms, the administration estimates it has prevented the closure of 17 gigawatts of coal power capacity that otherwise would have been shuttered. Officials say new investments have been announced in several states, including West Virginia, Wyoming, and North Dakota.
The Department of Energy said the initiative will “ensure continuous, on-demand baseload power to critical defense and industrial facilities.”
Trump closed his remarks with a familiar theme from his 2016 and 2024 campaigns: “We are going to make America energy dominant again. We are going to make America strong again. And yes, we are going to make America great again—with American energy.”