The U.S. Secretary of War, in coordination with the U.S. Secretary of Energy, will seek to procure power from the U.S. coal generation fleet by approving long-term power purchase agreements, or entering into any similar contractual agreements, with coal-fired energy production facilities to serve Department of War installations or other mission-critical facilities under a Feb. 11 Executive Order signed by President Trump.
Priority will be given to projects that enhance grid reliability and blackout prevention, on-site fuel security and mission assurance for defense and intelligence capabilities, the EO said.
“The United States must ensure that our electric grid –- upon which military installations, operations, and defense-industrial production depend — remains resilient and reliable, and not reliant on intermittent energy sources. The grid is the foundation of our national defense as well as our economic stability. Any prolonged disruption caused by energy shortages, foreign supply dependencies, or intermittent generation threatens the operational readiness of our Armed Forces and the safety of the American people,” the EO said.
Coal generation “ensures that military installations, command centers, and defense-industrial bases remain fully powered under all conditions — including natural disasters, or wartime contingencies. Maintaining this capability is a matter of national security, strategic deterrence, and American energy dominance,” the EO said.
