US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, House Speaker Mike Johnson and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin with US President Donald Trump holding a signed executive order directing the military to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants during a “Champion of Coal” event at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2026.
Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered the Defense Department to purchase power from coal plants, his latest effort to revivte an industry that has struggled to compete against cheaper energy resources.
Trump signed the executive order at a White House event attended by Peabody Energy CEO James Grech. The order directs the Pentagon to secure long-term power purchase agreements with coal plants for military installations.
“We’re going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now,” Trump said. Shares of Peabody rose 4% in extended trading.
The president said he also directed the Department of Energy to issue funds to keep coal plants open in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Trump declared coal essential to U.S. national and economic security last April. He issued several executive orders at the time that aimed boost coal production.
The coal industry has been in state of decline for years as it has struggled to compete against natural gas and renewable energy. About 16% of U.S. electricity generation came from burning coal in 2023, down from 51% in 2001, according to the Energy Information Administration.
