US to invest $625M to expand coal industry

- Coal to play a central role in powering US reindustrialization and meeting rising electricity demand, says US secretary of energy

The US Department of Energy on Monday announced a $625 million investment to "expand and reinvigorate" the country's coal industry, aiming to boost energy production and support coal communities nationwide.

"Beautiful, clean coal will be essential to powering America's reindustrialization and winning the AI race," said the US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

Wright noted that the funding will play a crucial role in maintaining the operation of the country's coal plants, helping to ensure stable electricity prices and an uninterrupted power supply.

He added that "coal built the greatest industrial engine the world has ever known, and with President Trump's leadership, it will help do so again."

The package includes $350 million for plant retrofits, $175 million for rural energy projects, and smaller allocations for wastewater management, dual-firing retrofits and gas co-firing systems.

By Handan Kazanci

Anadolu Agency

energy@aa.com.tr