Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The U.S. Energy Department announced initiatives to support and upgrade coal-fired power plants to enhance grid reliability and national security. These efforts include supporting or saving an additional 17 coal plants and one export facility, bringing total support to 45 coal plants with over 40 gigawatts of coal power capacity, potentially saving around $50 billion in costs related to new power generation.
The department committed up to $350 million for four projects under the "Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization" initiative. These projects involve assessing the commissioning of two new coal plants—a 1.25 GW plant in Anchorage, Alaska, and a 1.6 GW plant at the West Virginia Energy Campus—as well as recommissioning and modernizing existing plants such as the 205 MW AES Warrior Run Generating Plant in Maryland and the 510 MW AES Puerto Rico coal-fired plant.
Additionally, $175 million was previously allocated to upgrade six other coal facilities. The Energy Department expects these actions to generate about $1.7 billion in private sector investment, aiming to sustain at least 42 coal mines nationwide. These measures are part of broader efforts to secure domestic energy production and infrastructure, including coal power generation.