This USEA article series examines the evolving role of coal in the United States’ energy, industrial, and supply-chain landscape. Covering major U.S. regions including the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and West, the series assesses coal’s continued contribution to grid reliability, fuel security, industrial competitiveness, and regional economic resilience. It also explores emerging pathways beyond traditional power generation, including critical mineral recovery, rare earth elements, coal ash utilization, advanced carbon materials, and coal-to-products technologies. Together, the articles frame coal not only as a legacy energy resource, but as a strategic domestic asset relevant to reliability planning, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, national security, and the future of U.S. energy and industrial policy.

About the Author

Beata Bialy is a Non-Resident Fellow with the United States Energy Association, where she produces research and publications on energy policy, and the strategic role of domestic energy resources in supporting U.S. economic competitiveness and energy security.