August 14, 2026 - The United States should preserve its remaining coal-fired power plants and remove barriers limiting coal exports as electricity demand rises from artificial intelligence, data centers, manufacturing and global energy needs, according to two reports released by the National Coal Council.

The reports, prepared for U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, argue that coal remains a critical resource for domestic grid reliability and international energy security, while contending that regulatory policies, market structures and infrastructure limitations have restricted the industry’s ability to meet growing demand.

The council’s reports — “Maximizing the Value of the U.S. Coal Fleet” and “Outlook and Opportunities for U.S. Coal Exports” — were developed by members of the council’s Coal Export Subcommittee and examine the future role of coal in both domestic electricity generation and global markets.

The reports come as the nation faces rapidly increasing electricity demand after nearly 15 years of relatively flat consumption. The council cited projections from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation showing U.S. electricity demand could reach nearly 5,500 terawatt-hours by 2030, representing a 36% increase from 2025 levels.

The council said maintaining existing coal generation capacity will be necessary to support grid reliability during that growth.

According to the report, nearly 154 gigawatts of coal-fired generating capacity — about 45% of the fleet’s peak capacity — have been retired or converted to natural gas since 2010. More than 60 gigawatts of additional coal capacity are currently scheduled for retirement over the next decade, including more than 26 gigawatts before 2030.

As of December 2025, the U.S. coal fleet included 374 generating units at 186 power plants across 37 states, representing 168.4 gigawatts of installed capacity. Coal produced about 733 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, accounting for roughly 17% of total U.S. electricity generation.

The council said coal provides reliability benefits because plants typically maintain large on-site fuel supplies, allowing them to continue operating during severe weather events and periods of high natural gas demand.

The report noted coal generation increased by at least 50% above normal levels during four major winter storms since 2022 to help stabilize the electric grid.

The council also highlighted coal’s capacity accreditation ratings in regional electricity markets, including the PJM Interconnection and Midcontinent Independent System Operator. In PJM, coal plants receive an 83% accreditation rating compared with 60% for natural gas, 41% for wind and 11% for solar, according to the report.

The reports attribute much of the decline of the coal fleet to federal regulations, renewable energy subsidies and electricity market rules rather than declining demand alone.

The council argued that coal plants have significantly reduced emissions over the past several decades, citing a 93% decline in sulfur dioxide emissions and an 89% decline in nitrogen oxide emissions between 2000 and 2025. The report said utilities are expected to have invested nearly $124 billion in emissions-control technology by 2030.

Beyond domestic electricity generation, the council said the United States has an opportunity to become a larger supplier of coal to international markets, particularly as global power demand and steel production continue increasing.

U.S. coal exports totaled 93 million short tons in 2025, down from 108 million short tons in 2024. The exports generated an estimated $10 billion in revenue and supported more than 36,000 direct and indirect jobs across mining, transportation and port industries, according to the report.

The council said infrastructure limitations, particularly on the West Coast, have prevented the United States from fully competing in Asian markets.

East Coast ports, including facilities in Virginia and Maryland, handled about 62% of U.S. coal exports over the past five years, while western producers have relied heavily on Canadian ports because of a lack of high-capacity West Coast export terminals.

The report identified expanded port capacity as a key priority, pointing to proposed projects such as the Western Gateway Terminal in Oakland, California, as potential solutions for increasing access to overseas markets.

The council also called for improvements to rail networks, waterways and harbor infrastructure, noting that draft restrictions at some ports have required exporters to use costly offshore transfer operations to load large vessels.

International trade policies have also affected export demand, according to the report. U.S. coal shipments to China declined sharply in 2025 following retaliatory tariffs, though exporters increased sales to countries including India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The council recommended reducing regulatory and financial burdens on coal producers, including reforms to federal permitting processes, coal royalty structures and maritime shipping fees.

For domestic power generation, the council recommended changes to Environmental Protection Agency regulations, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission market rules and Department of Energy programs to support coal plant modernization and next-generation coal technologies.

The reports also highlighted emerging uses for coal beyond traditional power generation, including production of synthetic graphite for batteries, carbon fiber for defense applications and extraction of rare earth elements from coal-related materials.

The council said expanded use of coal resources could strengthen U.S. energy security, support domestic manufacturing and provide additional reliability as electricity demand continues to grow.