President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the US Department of Defense to sign long-term electricity purchase agreements with coal-fired power plants and to prioritize preserving and strategically using coal-based energy assets.

Coal generators gain a new anchor buyer via long-term DoD contracts, improving plant revenue visibility and reducing near-term retirement pressure for participating facilities. Federal agencies and contractors supporting DoD installations will need to adjust procurement and contracting to accommodate coal-sourced power where these agreements are executed. The order increases the risk of conflict with decarbonization targets and could trigger legal and policy challenges that complicate energy planning for bases and surrounding grids.