Image Credentials: Image Title: “Energy Dominance”: Trump Orders Pentagon to Buy Coal Power to Safeguard National Security. Source: (sora.openai) Date: February 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
OPEN CHRONICLE | Serving the Truth, Shaping the Future
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping move to revitalize the domestic coal industry, President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday directing the Department of Defense (DoD) to prioritize electricity generated from coal-fired power plants.
The order, which invokes Cold War-era authorities under the 1950 Defense Production Act (DPA), frames the preservation of coal infrastructure as a critical pillar of national security. According to White House officials, the directive instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to secure long-term contracts with coal facilities to ensure military bases remain powered by “reliable, 24/7” energy.
A National Security Mandate
The administration argues that coal’s ability to store months of fuel on-site makes it inherently more resilient than renewable sources or natural gas pipelines, which are vulnerable to cyberattacks and extreme weather.
“President Trump is taking the most significant deregulatory actions in history to further unleash American energy dominance,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “Beautiful, clean coal is not only keeping the lights on but also driving down the cost of electricity during periods of peak demand.”
The “$175 Million Rescue Plan.”
Accompanying the Pentagon directive is a Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to distribute $175 million in funding to modernize six specific coal plants across Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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The Goal: To extend the operational life of aging plants that were previously slated for retirement.
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TVA Reversal: The announcement coincides with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) moving to delay the decommissioning of two major coal units, citing surging demand from the burgeoning artificial intelligence and data center industries.
The “Undisputed Champion of Coal”
As part of the day’s events, President Trump is expected to host coal executives and miners at the White House, where he will receive the inaugural “Undisputed Champion of Coal” award from the Washington Coal Club.
Critics, however, are raising alarms. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club argue that forcing the Pentagon to buy more expensive, polluting power will lead to higher costs for taxpayers and increased respiratory health risks. Furthermore, security experts note that the DoD’s own internal guidance has previously favored on-site microgrids and diversified renewable energy to improve base resilience.
The Regulatory Battlefield
The executive order arrives alongside several other major shifts in energy policy this week:
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Endangerment Finding: The administration is expected to formally rescind the EPA’s landmark “endangerment finding,” which identifies greenhouse gases as a threat to public health.
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Federal Leases: The Department of the Interior is slashing coal royalties on federal lands from 12.5% to 7% to encourage new mining projects.
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Renewable Setbacks: The move follows recent Trump administration efforts to halt offshore wind projects, which the President has frequently criticized as unreliable “con jobs.”
As the 2026 midterms approach, the White House is betting that a return to “Energy Dominance” through fossil fuels will resonate with voters concerned about rising utility bills and the race for AI supremacy against China.