By Chris Hamilton, President, West Virginia Coal Association

May 1, 2026 - There are moments when events strip away the luxury of theory and force a return to first principles. This is one of those moments. Recently, President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to strengthen America’s coal supply chains and reinforce the backbone of reliable, affordable electric generation. The order authorizes federal support for mining, transportation, export and domestic terminals, generating unit availability, and long-term fuel security. It is a direct acknowledgment that coal remains indispensable to the stability of the American power system and to the broader national interest.

This action represents yet another move by President Trump, who in 15 short months has done everything humanly possible to boost West Virginia coal. In March, the President issued an executive order instructing the Department of War to utilize coal-fired electricity to power all U.S. military bases. That directive recognizes what we have long understood—that energy security is national security, and that coal remains the most reliable foundation for both. West Virginia’s energy producers now have a clear opportunity to step forward and meet that need.

At the same time, the world beyond our borders is sending a message that is impossible to ignore. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas moves through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow corridor now defined by uncertainty and geopolitical risk. Across Europe and Asia, countries that once turned away from coal are reversing course, restarting plants and securing supply with urgency born not of ideology, but of necessity. They are doing what they must to keep their lights on and their economies functioning, and in doing so they are rediscovering what works.

The United States is not in the same position of vulnerability, and that is no accident. We possess a vast, secure, domestic coal supply that does not depend on unstable transit routes or foreign actors. American coal reaches more than 70 nations, and it does so without passing through the chokepoints that now threaten global energy markets. That reality makes coal more than a fuel; it makes it a strategic asset. At a time when energy security and national security are increasingly intertwined, strengthening coal production and logistics is not simply sound policy, it is a clear competitive advantage.

There is also the matter of cost, and it is here that coal continues to prove its quiet value. Natural gas prices remain relatively stable today, but they are increasingly tied to global demand as U.S. LNG export capacity expands and domestic consumption rises. Even modest increases in gas prices can cascade through the economy, raising electricity costs for households and businesses alike. Coal provides a stabilizing force within that system, allowing utilities to shift generation when markets tighten and prices rise. When natural gas prices increased in 2025, a corresponding rise in coal generation helped shield American consumers from an estimated $30 to $40 billion in additional energy costs. That is not an abstract figure; it represents real relief for families and industries that depend on affordable power. 

Meanwhile, the electric grid itself is under growing strain. The PJM Interconnection has warned of a potential 60-gigawatt capacity shortfall within the next decade, an amount of power equivalent to the needs of roughly 45 million homes. Other regions are facing similar challenges as demand accelerates, driven in part by industrial growth and the rapid expansion of data infrastructure. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has described the situation in stark terms, warning of a system under pressure with insufficient dispatchable generation to replace what has been retired. Against that backdrop, existing coal plants, many of them fully built and already paid for, remain underutilized, often operating at a fraction of their potential even as higher-cost generation is dispatched to meet demand. That is not a matter of resource scarcity; it is a matter of policy choice.

West Virginia stands ready to meet this moment with the resources, workforce, and infrastructure that have defined its role in powering this nation for more than a century. Our coal is among the highest quality in the world, our transportation networks are built to move it efficiently, and our generating fleet can deliver reliable baseload power at scale. The question before the country is not whether new solutions must be invented, but whether existing strengths will be used wisely and without delay. 

The goodwill and policy direction coming from Washington must be matched by decisive action here at home—by state leaders, regulators, utilities, and industry working in concert to fully utilize the assets we already have.

This is a moment of opportunity, and it will not wait. If we move with purpose, we can secure jobs, stabilize our grid, and reassert West Virginia’s rightful place at the center of American energy. If we hesitate, others will fill that space.

The question now is as simple as it is urgent. Why not West Virginia coal, and why not now?