Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Strengthens United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet

President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order directing the Department of War to prioritize long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with American coal-fired power plants. The move is designed to ensure that U.S. military installations and mission-critical defense facilities have access to "uninterrupted, on-demand baseload power."Key Provisions of the Executive Order:Military Contracts: The Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, is mandated to approve long-term contracts with coal facilities to serve defense and intelligence sites.Prioritization: Priority will be given to energy projects that improve grid reliability, prevent blackouts, and provide on-site fuel security.National Security Justification: The administration argues that "baseload power" is essential for operational readiness and defense-industrial production, asserting that intermittent sources like wind and solar are "unreliable" during extreme weather.Broader Energy Strategy:The article frames this action as part of the President’s "America First" energy dominance agenda. It highlights several second-term achievements to date:National Energy Emergency: Declared on "Day One" to bring all federal authorities to bear on strengthening the electric grid.Preserving Coal Capacity: The administration claims its actions have prevented the closure of 17 gigawatts of coal power and spurred new investments in affordable energy.Regulatory Rollbacks: In April 2025, the President designated coal as a mineral and lifted barriers to mining on federal lands while rescinding Biden-era restrictions on coal plants.National Coal Council (NCC): The administration recently reinstated this federal advisory committee, which had been terminated under the previous administration.Conclusion:By mandating that the military rely on the domestic coal fleet, the Trump Administration aims to bolster the "obsolete" U.S. grid while supporting the American coal industry and ensuring the military is never vulnerable to power interruptions.