Exploring the Conflict Over Coal in the United States

But the Trump administration wants to keep coal power alive, and the US Department of Energy recently ordered some plants to stay open past their scheduled closures. Here’s why there’s a power struggle over coal.

Coal used to be king in the US, but the country has dramatically reduced its dependence on the fuel over the past two decades. It accounted for about 20% of the electricity generated in 2024, down from roughly half in 2000.

While the decline of coal has been positive for US emissions, the real driver is economics. Coal used to be the cheapest form of electricity generation, but the fracking boom handed that crown to natural gas over a decade ago. Now, even cheaper wind and solar power is proliferating.

Economics played a significant role in the planned retirement of the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan, which was set to close at the end of May, according to Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Then, on May 23, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright released an emergency order that requires the plant to remain open. Wright’s order mandates 90 more days of operation, and the order can be extended beyond that. The goal is to minimize the risk of blackouts and address grid security issues before summer begins.

The DOE’s authority to require power plants to remain operational is typically used in emergencies, rather than in response to something as routine as changing seasons.

There’s growing concern in the US about meeting electricity demand, which is rising for the first time after being relatively flat for decades. This recent increase is largely due to the rise of massive data centers necessary for AI.

As we head toward summer, when the grid is stretched to its limits, forecasts for the New York area predict highs nearing 100 °F (38 °C) for several days next week. Many residents will likely rely on air conditioning and may receive notifications urging them to limit electricity use during peak demand times.