On July 21, DOE leaders including Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, DOE Under Secretary Kyle Haustveit, and DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for HGEO Curt Coccodrilli will join the National Coal Council for its second meeting of 2026.
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office
July 16, 2026
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On Tuesday, July 21, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) leaders including Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, DOE Under Secretary Kyle Haustveit, and DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office Curt Coccodrilli will join the National Coal Council (NCC) for its second meeting of 2026. Other federal leaders expected to participate include Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Deputy Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council Blake Deeley.
Originally established in 1984 and recently rechartered by the Department of Energy, the NCC provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on general policy matters relating to coal and the coal industry. The advisory process helps provide greater certainty for the industry by supporting stability, optimization, and long-term growth.
A key part of the day's agenda will be the presentation, discussion, and possible approval of two subcommittee reports: Considerations for Maintaining and Growing the U.S. Coal Fleet and Opportunities to Expand U.S. Coal Export Options. Committee members are also expected to discuss new studies to undertake in the future.
A Brief History of the National Coal Council
Several developments led to the creation of the NCC in 1984. At the time, there was growing recognition that coal needed a stronger voice in shaping national energy policy. For decades coal was widely viewed as the nation's most abundant domestic fossil fuel and a critical source of reliable, affordable energy. The Reagan Administration also concluded that the coal industry should have an advisory body comparable to the one that had long served the petroleum industry.
The NCC was intentionally organized to complement the National Petroleum Council, which had long advised the Secretary of Energy on petroleum-related technical issues. The Council was established as a federally chartered advisory committee consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, ensuring that its work would be transparent and conducted in the public interest.
Throughout its history, the Council has positioned itself as providing evidence-based recommendations intended to support national energy security, affordable electricity, and the responsible use of America's domestic coal resources. Its membership spans the entire coal value chain, including producers, electric utilities, engineers, academics, regulators, and transportation experts.
Continuing to Support the Future of Coal
As the NCC reconvenes on July 21, its members will continue the organization's longstanding role of providing independent advice and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. With its renewed focus on strengthening the domestic coal fleet, expanding export opportunities, and identifying future priorities, the meeting underscores the Council's ongoing support for the Department of Energy and the Trump administration's goal of ensuring that coal remains a cornerstone of the nation's energy mix. Through its recommendations, the Council will help DOE continue to advance policies that promote energy reliability, affordability, economic growth, and the responsible use of America's abundant coal resources.
The July 21 meeting will be held in person at The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. and will also be accessible to the public via livestream. Register here. The Council's first meeting of the year, held at the White House on January 15, is available to watch on YouTube.