Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration would direct nearly $700 million toward supporting the domestic coal industry, a move with direct implications for Wyoming — the nation’s largest coal-producing state. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon attended the White House event where the plan was unveiled.
Why It Matters
Wyoming supplies close to half of all the coal burned to generate electricity across the United States, making federal energy policy a matter of significant economic consequence for the state. Coal production in Wyoming has fallen by roughly half since 2008, and the administration’s package is aimed in part at reversing that decline and stabilizing coal-dependent communities.
Among the facilities addressed in the plan is Dave Johnston Unit 3, a coal-fired power plant near Glenrock, Wyoming. The administration’s package could push back the plant’s scheduled retirement, potentially preserving jobs in the region. Trump said keeping the plant online benefits Wyoming workers and families, and noted the value of reliable power generation.
What Happened
The administration’s plan invokes Cold War-era national defense law authority to fund support for 13 coal plants across the country. The package includes construction of new coal-fired plants in Alaska and West Virginia — which would be the first such facilities built in the United States since 2013 — as well as the restart of a shuttered coal plant in Maryland and the construction of a coal export terminal in Oakland, California.
The plan also rolls back regional haze mitigation requirements, a regulatory relief measure that coal operators have long sought. White House officials said the combined actions are expected to support or create more than 14,000 jobs across coal, construction, rail, and maritime industries.
Trump described coal in broad terms as a foundational energy source, calling it “real power” and saying there is little that compares to it in terms of raw energy output.
By the Numbers
- $700 million — total federal commitment to coal industry support
- 13 — coal plants covered under the plan
- 2013 — last year new coal plants were constructed in the U.S.
- 14,000+ — jobs projected to be supported or created
- ~50% — both Wyoming’s share of national coal-fired electricity and the decline in Wyoming coal output since 2008
Zoom Out
Thursday’s announcement is part of a broader pattern of federal coal-sector activity under the Trump administration. Last fall, the administration announced plans to open 13 million acres of federal land for coal mining and pledged $625 million to recommission or modernize existing coal-fired power plants.
However, earlier efforts have faced obstacles. In 2025, the Bureau of Land Management moved forward with coal lease auctions in both Montana and Wyoming — covering 167 million tons and 441 million tons respectively — but received only a single bid at a fraction of a penny per ton. The BLM subsequently postponed those auctions indefinitely.
Separately, the Energy Department has already required coal plants in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, and Washington state to continue operating past their planned retirement dates, and issued similar orders for oil and gas-fired facilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Thursday’s announcement extends that approach and adds significant new financial backing.
The federal push to sustain coal comes as the broader energy sector — including parts of the Mountain West — grapples with aging infrastructure and shifting grid demands. For Wyoming, where coal underpins a substantial share of state revenue and employment, the administration’s posture represents a sharp departure from the regulatory direction of recent years.
What’s Next
Implementation details for the $700 million package, including disbursement timelines and the specific federal mechanisms to be used, have not been fully outlined. The fate of the Dave Johnston Unit 3 plant near Glenrock will likely draw close attention from Wyoming officials and energy industry stakeholders. Further federal land lease auctions and plant recommissioning efforts are also expected to move forward as part of the administration’s broader domestic energy agenda.
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