Coal-fired power could remain part of the United States’ energy mix for longer than previously anticipated. Rapid growth in electricity demand is forcing utilities and policymakers to prioritize reliability over retirement schedules. …
News Tag: coal
Winter storm tests US electric grid as outages spread
A severe winter storm pushed the U.S. power grid to its limits as outages spread and demand surged. During peak conditions, natural gas, nuclear, and coal supplied nearly 90% of PJM’s electricity, while wind contributed less than 5%. The event highlighted the grid’s continued reliance on dependable, dispatchable power during extreme weather. …
Global Coal Demand to Reach a New Record High this Year
Global coal demand is projected to reach a new record high this year as rising power needs from AI, manufacturing, and electrification accelerate worldwide. In the U.S., policy shifts keeping coal plants online and easing regulatory pressure could support higher utilization. At the same time, countries such as India and China continue to expand coal …
High and rising natural gas costs may spur fresh climb in US coal use
Early-year cold snaps and strong LNG exports pushed gas prices up, prompting utilities to shift to cheaper coal. A similar trend is emerging as 2025 closes, with coal-fired generation rising and gas output easing as gas prices hit three-year highs. …
How AI Is Breathing New Life into Aging Coal-Fired Power Assets
Coal is finding its way back into the energy conversation—not as a nostalgic nod to the past, but as a pragmatic response to a very modern challenge: the insatiable energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI). As AI data centers proliferate, their need for reliable, around-the-clock electricity is forcing utilities and policymakers to rethink the importance …
The IEA Makes a Major Change to Its World Energy Outlook
With coal demand driven largely by emerging economies like China and India, where it fuels nearly half of electricity generation, the future of coal hinges on electricity demand, renewable deployment, and natural gas pricing. The IEA now aligns its projections with realistic energy trends, signaling coal’s continued relevance in a world striving for energy abundance. …
The Death of Coal is Greatly Exaggerated
Despite the hopes of some, the narrative that coal is about to reach the end of its useful life could not be more incorrect or misleading. While thermal coal still fuels approximately 35% of global electricity production [1], its importance extends far beyond power generation. Market demand for non-energy-related coal continues to rise across multiple …
Increasing Power Prices Are Being Wrongly Blamed on the Trump Administration
With election season upon us, Democrats across the country are using rising electricity prices occurring alongside the OBBBA’s passage as a cudgel against Republican opponents. Reality, however, is much more complicated, as much of the increase in electricity prices results from policies enacted during the Biden administration and the increase in demand from AI, not …
America’s Energy Dilemma: A Consumer’s Guide to Common Sense
If America approached its national energy policy the way a family buys a truck—asking, “Will this get the job done, in every season, under every condition?”—the answer would still be coal. It’s not sentimental nostalgia; it’s arithmetic and common sense. Coal delivers what every smart buyer demands: power when you need it, at a price …
Down in a Pennsylvania Mine, I Saw Coal’s Future
Core Natural Resources Executive Chairman Jimmy Brock recently guided Senator Dave McCormick on a tour of the Enlow Fork Mine, the largest underground coal mining complex in North America. The visit highlighted the advanced safety measures and modern technology driving today’s coal industry. Both leaders emphasized coal mining’s continued importance to Pennsylvania’s economy and to …
