For generations, coal has powered America’s economy, strengthened our industrial base, and supported the communities that helped build this country. Today, it is once again being recognized for what it has always been: an essential component of American strength and national security.

President Donald Trump’s recent executive order directing the Department of Defense to prioritize electricity purchases from coal-fired power plants represents a turning point in national energy policy. It acknowledges a reality long understood in West Virginia — that reliable, dispatchable energy is not simply an economic issue. It is a matter of national security.

Military installations, defense manufacturing facilities, and intelligence operations cannot depend on power sources that fluctuate with weather or time of day. They require continuous, on-demand electricity backed by secure domestic fuel supplies. Coal provides exactly that. The executive order recognizes that America’s coal fleet offers unmatched fuel security and resilience, ensuring that critical operations remain powered under all conditions.

The Department of Defense is one of the largest institutional energy consumers in the world. Aligning its power needs with America’s most reliable energy sources strengthens both our electric grid and our national defense posture. At a time when geopolitical uncertainty and growing electricity demand are placing new pressures on the grid, this decision reflects a practical understanding of risk and reliability.

Equally important for West Virginia is the announcement accompanying the executive order: federal investment to modernize and extend the life of existing coal-fired power plants, including upgrades at facilities here at home. Projects at the John E. Amos Power Plant, the Mountaineer Power Plant, and the Fort Martin Power Station represent more than infrastructure investment — they represent confidence in West Virginia’s workforce and in the future of coal-fired generation.

These modernization efforts about using proven infrastructure more efficiently, improving plant performance, and ensuring that existing generation assets continue to provide dependable power for decades to come. Modernizing existing plants is often the fastest and most cost-effective way to maintain grid reliability while keeping electricity affordable for American families and businesses.

For too long, energy policy in Washington was shaped by political agendas rather than experience and need. Coal plants were retired faster than replacement capacity could realistically be built. The result has been tighter reserve margins, higher volatility in power markets, and growing concern among grid operators about long-term reliability. The events of recent winters — when coal plants operated at high capacity while other resources struggled — demonstrated the value of maintaining a diverse and resilient generation mix.

The President’s action signals a renewed commitment to that balance. Coal is not being positioned as the only solution, but as a necessary foundation alongside natural gas, nuclear power, and emerging technologies. That approach reflects the reality of how electricity systems actually function.

For West Virginia, the implications are significant. Coal mining jobs support thousands of families directly and many more indirectly through supply chains, transportation, and local economies. Maintaining a strong domestic coal fleet preserves not only employment, but also tax revenues that fund schools, infrastructure, and public services across our state.

Just as importantly, these decisions send a message to energy workers who have too often felt overlooked. The miners, plant operators, engineers, and skilled tradesmen who keep the lights on deserve recognition for the role they play in powering this nation. This executive order and the accompanying investments acknowledge their contribution in a meaningful way.

Critics argue that coal belongs to the past. But energy policy should not be driven by slogans or ideology. It should be guided by reliability, affordability, and security. The reality is simple: until replacement technologies can deliver the same level of dependable, around-the-clock power at scale, coal remains indispensable.

West Virginia understands this better than most. Our state has powered America through war, economic expansion, and technological transformation. Today, as electricity demand rises from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and national defense needs, that experience matters more than ever.

President Trump’s executive order and the modernization of West Virginia coal plants represent a practical step forward — one that strengthens the grid, supports American workers, and reinforces the link between energy security and national security.

Coal built America once. With smart policy and responsible investment, it will continue helping power America’s future.