US DOE Plans $100M Investment to Modernize Coal Power Plants Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $100 million funding initiative to modernize and refurbish existing coal-fired power plants, aiming to enhance their efficiency, reliability, and affordability. This move is part of President Donald Trump's broader effort to revive the coal industry and strengthen the nation's power grid, contrasting with the previous Biden administration's policies, which were criticized for leading to coal plant closures and higher electricity costs. DOE Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that the administration is ending what he described as a "war on American coal" and restoring "common sense energy policies" to support American workers and energy needs. The funding targets advanced wastewater management, fuel switching between coal and natural gas, and coal-natural gas co-firing systems, with projects overseen by the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory. The initiative reflects growing concerns about grid stability and the necessity to maintain reliable power sources, as DOE has issued emergency orders to keep coal plants operational amid fears of increasing blackouts. Environmentalists, however, argue that propping up coal contradicts global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.