September 12, 2025 - Old King Coal may no longer sit at the head of the energy table, but the fuel that once powered the industrial revolution in Great Britain and later in the United States is still an important energy resource. Coal remains an important energy resource for the U.S. economy. It is fair to say that demand for coal power in the U.S. will remain stable and perhaps modestly increase over the next several years.

Fortunately, President Donald Trump and his administration recognize the importance of coal to the economy and to national security. The president has highlighted that coal is a critical natural resource in several executive orders. 

Electricity generation in the U.S. hit a record high in the first half of 2025, as power demand grows with the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence data centers. Electricity provided by utilities in the U.S. rose by 4% from January to June, to an all-time high of 2,188 terawatt hours for this period (that is a lot). Natural gas and other carbon-based fuels, including coal, powered more than half of all electricity. Coal power generation in the first half of the year reached the highest level since the first half of 2022. It provided 16% of the total domestic electricity supply. The increase in coal production was principally a function of a spike in natural gas prices.