The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office's investments, partnerships, and on-the-ground engagements represent the work underway to strengthen America's coal industry and position it for the future.
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office
June 9, 2026
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Affordable, reliable, and secure energy is the foundation of human prosperity and economic growth. Recognizing coal's critical role in meeting that need, the Office of Coal, within the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO), is committed to stabilizing, optimizing, and growing the American coal industry.
That commitment is already taking shape across the country.
On June 4, President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced funding to build, upgrade and modernize coal-powered infrastructure. These actions include a $350 million investment to modernize America’s coal fleet. Four projects, spanning Alaska, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and Maryland, could add or preserve approximately 3,565 megawatts of coal-fired generation capacity—enough electricity to serve roughly three million U.S. households each year.
In addition, up to $500 million in Defense Production Act Title III funds will support 13 American coal-fired power plants and the West Gateway Terminal Project in Oakland, California. Collectively, the investments are expected to extend the operational life of selected coal-fired power plants by over 120 years and support more than 3,000 American jobs.
The terminal will provide critical West Coast export capacity and support energy trade with allied nations, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
But investments are just one part of the story.
Earlier this year, HGEO hosted a series of regional coal workshops across Arizona, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and North Dakota, bringing together over 300 stakeholders to discuss opportunities for extending the life of existing coal assets and advancing next-generation coal technologies. Those conversations helped inform DOE’s strategy for supporting American energy production and expanding U.S. coal exports.
Building on that momentum, in May, Acting Assistant Secretary Curt Coccodrilli, alongside representatives from DOE and the U.S. Department of Commerce, traveled to Montana and Wyoming to engage with state officials, Tribal leaders, labor representatives, producers, and industry partners on the future of American coal production and exports.
The visit also included discussions with representatives from Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), building on a recent agreement supporting $42.6 million annually in U.S. coal exports to Malaysia. Throughout the trip, participants discussed opportunities to strengthen coal supply chains, expand export markets, and support the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. coal industry.
While at Signal Peak Energy’s Bull Mountains Mine, Montana’s only underground coal mine, Acting Assistant Secretary Curt Coccodrilli joined Steve Read, President of Signal Peak Global Markets, on the Coal Nation Podcast to discuss the future of American coal and growing energy demand both in the United States and abroad.
These investments, partnerships, and on-the-ground engagements represent just a snapshot of the work underway to strengthen America's coal industry and position it for the future.
And the work continues.
Looking ahead, the National Coal Council will meet in July to release two new coal study reports that will help inform the future of the industry. HGEO will also release findings from its regional coal workshops and continue engaging with international partners through upcoming delegation visits. Additional updates will be shared in the coming weeks.
To learn more about DOE’s commitment to unleashing beautiful, clean coal, read this new fact sheet. For future announcements and project updates, sign up for news alerts and follow HGEO on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.