Trump orders Pentagon to buy electricity generated by coal

Trump’s order is the latest move by US administration to boost fossil fuel industry despite climate change concerns.Published On 12 Feb 2026United States President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to buy electricity generated by coal, his latest effort to boost demand for the fossil fuel amid its declining cost competitiveness and climate change concerns.In an executive order signed on Wednesday, Trump directed the US Department of Defence to enter into long-term purchase agreements with coal-fired plants and prioritise the “preservation and strategic utilisation” of “coal-based energy assets”.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Protesters clash with police over bid to restrict Argentina’s labour rightslist 2 of 4US Energy Secretary Chris Wright touts oil production on Venezuela visitlist 3 of 4Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,449list 4 of 4Breaking with Trump, US House votes to pass a bill ending Canada tariffsend of listTrump’s order did not specify how much energy the Pentagon would purchase or under what financial terms.“You do so much,” Trump said at a White House event attended by coal industry executives and miners.“You heat our homes, fuel our factories, and turn natural resources into American riches and dreams,” he said.Trump also announced that the US Department of Energy would invest $175m to upgrade six coal plants in North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.“The most important people here today are those who get their hands a little bit dirty to keep America running at full speed – our front line coal workers,” Trump said.Coal production in the US has been in decline for decades amid growing competition from natural gas and renewables, including wind, hydropower and solar.Production fell by more than half between 2008 and 2023, when output hit 578 million tonnes, according to the US Energy Information Administration.The fossil fuel accounted for about 16 percent of US energy production in 2023, behind natural gas and renewables at 43 percent and 21 percent, respectively.