New National Coal Council Reports Reinforce HGEO's Coal Research Priorities

Two new reports released by the National Coal Council (NCC) closely align with the mission and ongoing work of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO). Presented on July 21, 2026, during the second meeting of the NCC under the second Trump Administration, the reports provide recommendations for strengthening America's coal industry through technology innovation, infrastructure investment, and expanded domestic and international markets.

Speaking to attendees at The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., HGEO Acting Assistant Secretary Curt Coccodrilli emphasized the importance of the Council's work in maintaining and growing the nation's coal fleet, expanding export opportunities, strengthening the workforce, and ensuring coal remains a key part of America's energy future. While some of the reports' policy recommendations extend beyond DOE's authority, a significant number align directly with HGEO's research, development, demonstration, and commercialization mission.

Outlook and Opportunities for U.S. Coal Exports

The first report, Outlook and Opportunities for U.S. Coal Exports, concludes that the United States has significant opportunities to expand coal exports but that realizing this potential will require coordinated federal action. The report identifies infrastructure limitations, regulatory barriers, and restricted market access rather than coal resources themselves as the primary obstacles to export growth.

The report strongly aligns with HGEO's program work in several key areas:

• Advancing mining and coal processing technologies to improve productivity and strengthen the domestic coal value chain.
• Supporting next-generation coal technologies that improve efficiency and competitiveness.
• Expanding research on coal-derived products and critical minerals to create higher-value export opportunities.
• Strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. coal industry through technology innovation.
• Accelerating commercialization through partnerships with industry and HGEO’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

The report also includes recommendations for other This was an empty link: agencies within the National Energy Dominance Councilagencies within the National Energy Dominance Council, including trade policy, permitting, and port infrastructure improvements.

Maximizing the Value of the U.S. Coal Fleet

The Council’s second report, Maximizing the Value of the U.S. Coal Fleet, aligns specifically with the mission of HGEO's Office of Coal. Its recommendations focus on improving the performance, flexibility, and long-term value of the nation's existing coal fleet while expanding opportunities for coal technologies.

Key areas of alignment include:

• Modernizing existing coal plants and extending their operational life.
• Improving plant flexibility to enhance grid reliability and energy resilience.
• Expanding carbon capture and utilization, including technologies that convert captured carbon into valuable products.
• Accelerating research on coal-derived products, critical minerals, and beneficial use of coal byproducts.
• Advancing mining and processing technologies that strengthen the coal value chain from resource extraction through end use.

Overall, the two reports present practical first steps toward translating the NCC's recommendations into tangible DOE programs and investments that stabilize, optimize, and grow the American coal industry. Near-term actions include expanding funding for advanced mining and coal processing technologies; demonstrating coal plant modernization and efficiency improvements; accelerating carbon capture, utilization, and coal-to-products research; supporting critical mineral recovery from coal and coal waste streams; and increasing public-private partnerships through NETL and industry to move promising technologies from the laboratory to commercial deployment.

DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office works to unleash the full potential of America’s energy resources—including coal, oil, natural gas, and geothermal—to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy. The National Coal Council is a federal advisory committee established in 1984 to advise the U.S. Secretary of Energy on policy matters related to coal and the coal industry.