Trump orders Pentagon to buy electricity generated by coal | Donald Trump News
Trump Orders Pentagon to Purchase Coal-Powered Electricity
February 12, 2026
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to enter long-term agreements for electricity generated by coal, marking a significant move to support the fossil fuel industry amid ongoing concerns about climate change and the diminishing competitiveness of coal.
The order, signed on Wednesday, instructs the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize the procurement of power from coal-fired plants and emphasizes the need to preserve and strategically utilize coal-based energy assets. However, the specifics regarding the volume of energy to be purchased and the financial terms remain unspecified.
During a White House event with coal industry executives and miners, Trump praised the contributions of coal workers, stating, “You heat our homes, fuel our factories, and turn natural resources into American riches and dreams.”
In conjunction with the executive order, Trump announced an investment of $175 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for upgrades at six coal plants located in North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia.
Coal production in the United States has been on a decline for decades, primarily due to competition from natural gas and renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydropower. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal output dropped by more than half from 2008 to 2023, reaching 578 million tons last year. Coal accounted for roughly 16 percent of U.S. energy production in 2023, trailing behind natural gas and renewables, which constituted 43 percent and 21 percent, respectively.
Despite the challenges faced by the coal industry, Trump has advocated for a revival of what he terms “beautiful, clean coal,” asserting its importance for domestic manufacturing and enhancing the U.S. position in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. This stance occurs despite a 2023 analysis by Energy Innovation, a nonprofit based in California, which indicated that 99 percent of coal-powered facilities in the U.S. are more costly to operate than their renewable counterparts.
Trump’s tenure has seen prominent actions affecting the coal industry, including the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and the declaration of an “energy emergency” on his first day in office aimed at halting the closure of aging coal plants. The U.S. Energy Department has mandated at least five plants to extend their operations beyond previously scheduled retirement dates as a result of Trump’s executive actions.
On the same day as Trump’s order, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the largest public utility provider in the U.S., voted to prolong the operation of two coal plants originally slated for closure by 2035. This decision followed the addition of four Trump appointees to the TVA’s board of directors last month, a significant change that occurred after Trump dismissed three members appointed by former President Joe Biden.
