President Trump’s coal policy is a win for Nebraska and America Image By Kevin Stocker President Trump recently took bold, necessary action to reframe America’s energy policy around facts and logic – not wishful thinking. Through a series of executive orders, he affirmed the critical role that coal will continue to play in meeting our nation’s energy needs, especially as we prepare for a surge in energy demand driven by a resurgence in manufacturing and the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI). As a commissioner on the Nebraska Public Service Commission, I see firsthand how vital coal is to our state’s energy reliability, economic stability, and national security. Nebraska depends on coal for over 50 percent of its electricity. Our publicly owned and operated utilities have invested billions to ensure coal-fired generation remains both clean and efficient, proving once again that we don’t have to choose between a healthy environment and a thriving economy. That is a false choice – and always has been. Before my role in public service, I spent nearly two decades in the transportation industry. Nebraska’s railroads – home to industry giants like Union Pacific and BNSF – are the second-largest employer in our state. Do you know what they haul in massive volumes every single day? Coal. That’s not by accident. It’s by necessity. Coal remains a cornerstone of our national energy portfolio for a reason: it is reliable, abundant, affordable, and domestically sourced. Each coal generation facility in our region maintains at least nine months of fuel stockpiled. That means in the event of a natural disaster, severe weather, or even a terrorist attack, we have a stable, secure energy reserve ready to keep the lights on. Renewables like wind and solar play an important role, and Nebraska has embraced them. But here’s the truth: the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. Even the most optimistic projections acknowledge these sources alone cannot meet baseline energy demand – let alone fuel an energy-intensive future that includes AI-driven data centers and expanded industrial production. President Trump’s actions cut through the bureaucracy. His executive order directs the departments of agriculture, interior and energy to report back within 60 days on how federal policies have restricted coal development – especially on federal lands – and how those barriers can be removed. This is not symbolic. It’s real action with real deadlines. He also directed an evaluation of whether coal used in steel production should be designated as a critical mineral – a move that would promote domestic development and strengthen our industrial base. And for good reason: energy policy is not just about electricity. It’s about economic sovereignty and national defense. President Trump also called for increased coal exports – supporting American jobs, boosting trade, and helping our allies access reliable energy. That’s leadership. For those who advocate for more “clean” energy, it’s time to get serious about nuclear power. Many of our existing facilities are aging, and federal policy has made it nearly impossible to build new ones. The same voices calling for the elimination of fossil fuels are often the same ones opposing nuclear energy. They know full well that wind and solar cannot shoulder the load. Their resistance is not rooted in science – but in politics. America needs an energy policy grounded in reality, not ideology. The numbers don’t change based on your worldview. If we want to accommodate explosive growth in sectors like AI, rebuild our manufacturing capacity, and secure our national defense, we must have a stable, scalable, and sovereign energy supply. There is only one path forward that ensures we meet these challenges – and that begins with the continued, expanded use of fossil fuels, especially clean coal. Kevin Stocker serves as a commissioner representing District 5, comprised of 51 Nebraska counties, on the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
