Trumps Signs Pro-Coal Executive Orders

ByIrina Slav– Apr 09, 2025, 1:39 AM CDT

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Coal power plants have declined as share of U.S. generation capacity over the years, especially with the influx of cheap natural gas. Coal plants currently generate a fifth of U.S. electricity, which is down from as much as half back in 2000. However, demand over the last 20 or so years has been largely flat, which has facilitated the replacement of coal with gas and, to a lesser extent, wind and solar. This is now changing with the advent of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence was listed as one big reason for the rise in electricity demand in the United States last year—and the consequent increase in electricity supply from gas and coal. The other big reason was population growth. The trend is set to continue, as Big Tech only becomes more ambitious with its AI plans. This means more generation capacity would be needed.

Nuclear is one segment of the power generation industry that is set to benefit from the surge in demand, but coal is not being forgotten, either. It takes less time to build coal plants and with the existing scrubbing technology, particulate matter emissions are significantly lower than they used to be, strengthening the case for new coal.

Globally, coal capacity and consumption is still growing. Last year, a total of 44.1 gigawatts of coal power capacity was commissioned, while 25.2 GW was retired, resulting in a net increase of 18.8 GW, according to data from the Global Energy Monitor’s Global Coal Plant Tracker.

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