Coal is the Cornerstone

THIS IS THE REALITY: “In the week ending January 25, 2026, as Winter Storm Fern affected significant portions of the country, coal-fired electricity generation increased 31% from the previous week. .. while generation from solar, wind, and hydropower declined. Grid operators can call upon the coal fleet to increase electricity generation in extreme weather events and other times when demand surges or output falls from other generation sources, a pattern also evident in severe

The warnings come from the organizations responsible for assuring reliable electric power. The National Electric Reliability Council has stated” “coal-fired generator retirements… have caused a sharp decline in anticipated resource … new generation is insufficient to make up for retirements and load growth.” The largest power pools in the nation echoed NERC concern in testimony before the House Energy Committee: (1) PJM Interconnection (67 million people), CEO Manu Asthana: “

Will Rogers once said: "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." Nevertheless, Europe continues to shovel deeper and deeper. The recent and projected increases in electricity prices in the EU are damaging the future of European families, businesses and communities. CONTINUE READING ...

Coal is in a fight for its life and needs much more dynamic advocacy from the Industry if it is to survive as a viable source of electricity. Coal power plants in the United States are facing extinction and the companies which depend upon coal for revenue are in grave danger of losing their franchise, whether they recognize it or not. CONTINUE READING ...

Energy Ventures Analysis, one of the leading energy research firms in the US, warned in their study of 2025 electricity issues: “As this extreme weather event and the others before it have shown, dispatchable, highly reliable generating resources like coal fired power plants are paramount to ensuring reliable and affordable electricity service to electric consumers across the United States” The negative impacts of closing coal plants in the US are now self-evident, and the wo

The adverse consequences of closing coal power plants are not only domestic but international as well. The energy world is abuzz with how much electricity data centers will need. While the US dithers about where to find power to support them, China, its chief economic competitor, is building a reliable and inexpensive energy system anchored by highly efficient Supercritical coal plants with ever decreasing emissions. China is openly seeking to become the dominant leader in Ar

“The Democratic Party regards coal as our nation's greatest energy resource. It must play a decisive role in America's energy future. We must increase our use of coal” - 1980 Democratic Party Platform In the face of unprecedented demand for electricity, President Trump and Congress need to formulate a coherent energy policy to ensure reliable and affordable power in coming decades. Data centers, re-industrialization, crypto-currency, EVs, heat pumps and the dramatic societa

The competition between the United States and China regarding Artificial Intelligence is real and China is steadily eroding the initial gap. China has already taken the research lead in AI and the US is steadily losing talent to the PRC. Daniel Hook, CEO at Digital Science, found that China is now ahead in the development of large language models with an AI talent pool that dwarfs its rivals – 30,000 active AI researchers and a massive graduate student and postdoctoral popula

In June, Rand Corporation researchers stated: “China wants to become the global leader in Artificial Intelligence by 2030”. Given events of the past 25 years, does anyone think this is an unreasonable goal? Decades ago, the world was caught flat footed by the rapidity with which China was able to utilize coal-based electricity to jump forward. In the 2000 World Energy Outlook, the IEA projected coal generating capacity would increase from the then current 212 GW to 499 GW in

First, let’s establish the stark reality of coal’s contribution to American Society during crises over the last decade: 2014 Polar Vortex, brought extreme cold across the US resulting in record winter peak electric demands. Coal provided the majority of electricity but, even more importantly, coal power increased 92% YOY to meet the load. Oil increased 12%, Wind 9% and Nuclear 7%. Natural gas (NG) generation decreased 6% YOY and Hydro declined 15%. Solar was irrelevant. NG

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"Coal has underpinned China's massive and unprecedented growth in output, fueling an economic miracle" The International Energy Agency (IEA)

EIA projects power generation must increase 1,400 TWh in 20 years. Coal is the most available, reliable and affordable fuel to meet this demand. EIA projects a 25% decline in gas generation. Nuclear has a moribund supply chain that would take decades and massive resources to refurbish. Data Centers require stable power 24/7, not a crazy quilt combination of solar, wind and batteries.

The new wave of Data Centers cannot proceed without more coal to provide electricity 24/7. China and India are building out their coal baseload. The US is drifting toward a hodge podge of intermittent coal, wind and batteries. Unless the US is willing to cede a large part of future AI to other countries, baseload from coal needs to expand.

Modern cities cannot be built without steel, and coal powers 70% of steel production. By 2050 Asia’s urban population will increase by one billion and Africa’s by 700 million - a new London every 48 days. Coal provides the building blocks of cities- steel and cement with electricity as the binder. Demography is reality. “Net Zero” technologies are merely untested hypotheses.

New technologies are available to support coal use. Washington University’s Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization is on the cutting edge with their Fuel-Staged, Pressurized Oxy-Combustion (SPOC) Technology: Ultrahigh plant efficiency, low capital costs, compact modular boiler design, removal of SOx, NOx and mercury in a single step, highly flexible plant operation to compensate for variations that wind and solar produce. For new build or retrofit.

Energy is the foundation of national security and coal is the cornerstone. China controls over 75% of solar panel production and 60% of turbine manufacturing. The US relies heavily on Chinese imports for battery storage components. Nuclear has a long lead time and is prohibitively expensive. Natural Gas is the most price volatile of all fuels. The US has 27% of the world’s coal.

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Stop closing coal plants, re-commission plants that were prematurely retired and build new plants using clean coal technologies (e.g. Supercritical). The National Electric Reliability Council: “coal-fired generator retirements… have caused a sharp decline in anticipated resources … new generation is insufficient to make up for generator retirements and load growth”