President Donald Trump’s promise to go all in on fossil fuels includes praise for coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that's long been in decline. Trump this week suggested coal can help meet surging electricity demand from manufacturing and the massive data centers needed for artificial intelligence.
“Nothing can destroy coal. Not the weather, not a bomb — nothing," Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by video link Thursday. “And we have more coal than anybody.”. Yet energy experts say any bump for coal under Trump is likely to be temporary since natural gas is cheaper and there’s a durable market for renewable energy no matter who holds the White House.
“It's kind of been shown over the last three administrations even the president of the United States can't change markets, the trend for coal," said University of Wyoming economics professor Rob Godby. "It might lead to a reprieve.". Here's a look at the outlook for coal during Trump's second term:.
AI WILL REQUIRE MORE ELECTRICITY. Efficiency gains have plateaued electricity demand in the U.S. for 15 years, but that's changing. More manufacturing, more electric vehicles, and energy-hungry computing centers necessary for artificial intelligence are poised to strain the system.
Electricity demand for data centers alone will increase 10-20% per year through 2030, while manufacturing of batteries, solar cells and semiconductors will require additional gigawatts of new power over the next four years, predicted Chris Seiple with analyst firm Wood Mackenzie.
