Secretary Wright Renews the National Coal Council to Strengthen Our National and Economic Security

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is advancing President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to reinvigorating America’s coal industry by renewing the charter for the National Coal Council (NCC), a Federal Advisory Committee that was terminated during the Biden administration. This follows the President’s April 2025 Executive Order, calling for America to take aggressive action on coal. The coal industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and adds tens of billions to the U.S. economy each year.

Coal production has long been the backbone of American energy prosperity, ensuring affordable and reliable power. As electricity demand surges, driven by manufacturing growth and the expanding needs of artificial intelligence and data centers, the NCC will provide critical guidance on coal’s role in strengthening the U.S. energy landscape.

Coal is also an abundant source of the important materials necessary for American industry. Coal is a critical material—necessary to make steel and its combustion byproducts are used to build our roads and homes and fertilize our crops. Importantly, as we seek to counter our industrial dependence on foreign sources of minerals, there is also a growing realization that coal and its byproducts will help secure domestic production of many of the most critical minerals necessary for modern life.   

Established in 1984, the principal activity of the NCC is to prepare reports for the Secretary of Energy. The NCC activities include providing advice on:

• Federal policies that directly or indirectly affect the production, marketing, and use of coal;
• Plans, priorities, and strategies to address more effectively the technological, regulatory, and economic impact of issues relating to coal production and use;
• The appropriate balance among various elements of Federal coal-related programs;
• Scientific and engineering aspects of coal technologies, including emerging coal conversion, utilization, or environmental control concepts; and
• The progress of coal research, development, demonstration, and commercial application. 

Now that the charter has been published, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will begin the process of selecting and vetting prospective members of the committee. The NCC will be comprised of experts from industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, among others, bringing together a well-balanced representation from communities across the country to provide recommendations to Secretary Wright on the topics of coal policy, technology, and markets. 

Once the Secretary approves the committee members, DOE will announce and hold an initial meeting, during which a committee chair and vice chair will be elected. 

For more information, visit the NCC website and read the Federal Register notice here.