Coal-fired electricity generation in the United States continued its decline in the first half of 2026, despite efforts by President Donald Trump to revive the industry. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), coal-fired power output fell 11 percent compared with the same period last year. The EIA projects the decline to persist, though at a slower rate, forecasting a 4 percent drop for the remainder of this year and a further 3 percent decrease in 2027.
President Trump has pursued multiple initiatives to support the coal sector, including signing two executive orders aimed at preventing plant retirements and opening new public lands for mining. The administration has extended the operational life of seven coal-fired power plants that were scheduled to close and organized events at the White House with industry executives and miners to emphasize coal’s role in the energy mix. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated that the administration’s actions have prevented the retirement of more than 17 gigawatts of coal capacity, asserting that coal remains a “beautiful” and “clean” energy source critical during periods of high demand.
Coal’s contribution to U.S. electricity generation has steadily declined from 52 percent in 1990 to 17 percent in 2025, driven largely by competition from cheaper alternatives such as natural gas and renewables. The EIA highlighted this shift in energy economics, noting that natural gas and renewables have taken substantial market share as coal plants are retired or converted. Coal production has dropped 56 percent since its peak in 2008, and employment in the coal industry has roughly halved in that period.
Industry supporters argue that environmental regulations have constrained coal’s viability, while analysts emphasize economic factors. Seth Feaster, a coal analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said coal is losing ground due to market forces, with solar and wind power expanding rapidly enough to meet rising demand and displace coal.
Analyses from Lazard show that coal’s levelized cost of energy exceeds that of solar and onshore wind and is comparable to offshore wind, making alternatives financially more attractive. Despite the administration’s skepticism—Trump has referred to renewables as a “scam” and has sought to halt large projects—solar and wind energy generation increased by 21 percent and 6 percent respectively in the first half of this year.
Coal plants preserved by extended licenses have nonetheless reduced coal consumption markedly, with coal burned at these facilities falling from 4.8 million short tons in the first half of 2025 to 1.6 million short tons in the first half of 2026. Utilities are favoring conversions to natural gas units or increased use of existing gas facilities, spurred by natural gas prices that remain below the threshold needed to make coal competitive. The average natural gas price was $3.20 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in the first half of 2026, below the approximate $3.50 per MMBtu cost point for coal competitiveness.
Critics of the administration’s policies characterize the executive orders as subsidies benefiting the coal industry rather than pragmatic energy decisions. Ben Inskeep, program director at Citizens Action Coalition, described the measures as designed to artificially prop up coal. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy affirmed its commitment to revitalizing coal, citing efforts that have supported more than 80 American coal mines and power plants.