In Episode 7 of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates and Brian Scott dive into President Trump’s executive orders aimed at reviving coal-fired power generation—a move pitched as essential to powering the AI boom. The announcement includes reclassifying coal as a “critical mineral,” extending the life of aging coal plants, and promoting U.S. coal technology.

Coal stocks surged, but energy experts and economists are asking:

Can coal really meet the needs of energy-hungry AI data centers?

Is this sound energy policy—or a throwback to outdated infrastructure?

What does it mean for grid reliability, emissions, and clean energy investment?

With 93% of new U.S. generation capacity in 2025 projected to come from renewables and batteries, the return to coal raises more questions than answers.

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