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US DOE Says Coal Support Measures Will Preserve 42 Mines, Projects $1.7 Billion in Private Investment

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The US Department of Energy on Thursday said the Trump administration's coal-support initiatives will preserve and support 45 coal plants representing over 40 gigawatts of generation capacity, while helping keep about 42 coal mines in operation.

"Approximately $50 billion in costs to build new power generation have been saved, protecting ratepayers across the United States," it said.

The investments are expected to generate an additional $1.7 billion in private sector investment to revitalize the coal industry, DOE said.

Separately, DOE has chosen four coal modernization and reliability projects under its "Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization" initiative.

The move aims to support coal-based generation, grid reliability and boost energy infrastructure.

The projects are eligible for up to $350 million in funding and could add or preserve about 3.57 GW of coal-fired generation capacity, enough to serve roughly three million US households annually, according to DOE.

Two of the projects involve planned coal-fired power plants in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mt. Storm, West Virginia, with a combined capacity of 2.85 GW.

A third project would retrofit and modernize an existing 510-megawatt coal-fired facility in Guayama, Puerto Rico, while a fourth would recommission a 205-MW coal plant in Cumberland, Maryland, that ceased operations in 2024.

"DOE has committed $525 million to the overall funding opportunity, including $175 million for six previously announced projects to upgrade existing coal facilities," according to the statement.

In a separate statement, the agency provided additional details on a previously announced Defense Production Act funding package, saying the West Gateway Terminal project in Oakland, California, would expand West Coast coal export capacity and support shipments to markets including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

"The West Gateway Terminal Project fills a critical infrastructure gap in the US energy export system by providing additional West Coast export capacity for American coal producers," said Kyle Haustveit, DOE Under Secretary of Energy.

He added that with expanded access into global markets, the project "will support continued growth in US coal exports, improve supply chain resilience, and strengthen energy partnerships with allies throughout the Indo-Pacific region."

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