The Belews Creek coal-fired power plant in North Carolina, owned by Duke Energy (Credit: David Dalton / Wikimedia Commons)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $175 million in funding for six projects designed to modernise, retrofit, and extend the operational life of coal-fired power plants serving rural and remote regions across the United States.

The awards form part of the department’s broader $525 million programme to restore reliability and efficiency across the nation’s coal fleet through targeted system upgrades that utilise existing transmission infrastructure. The DOE said the initiative aims to reinforce energy affordability, system reliability, and employment stability in regions long linked to coal-based power generation.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the funding reflects the administration’s goal of maintaining dependable, 24-hour generation capacity. “These investments will keep America’s coal plants operating, keep costs low for Americans, and ensure we have the reliable power needed to keep the lights on,” Wright said.

Projects funded through this round include:

  • Appalachian Power Company – modernisation of the Mountaineer Power Plant in Letart, WV, and John E. Amos Power Plant in Winfield, WV.
  • Buckeye Power Inc. – upgrades to Units 1 and 2 at the Cardinal Plant in Brilliant, OH.
  • Duke Energy Carolinas LLC – enhancements to two units at the Belews Creek Steam Station in Sauratown Township, NC.
  • Kentucky Utilities Corporation – efficiency improvements to Unit 2 at the Ghent Generating Station in Ghent, KY.
  • Monongahela Power Company – system upgrades at the Fort Martin Power Station in Maidsville, WV.
  • Ohio Valley Electric Corporation – modernisation across five generating units at the Kyger Creek Station in Cheshire, OH.

According to the DOE, the combination of projects is expected to strengthen grid resilience, prolong plant lifespans, and help stabilise electricity costs at a time of rising energy demand. Modernising existing thermal assets, it added, remains among the most practical and cost-effective ways to maintain dependable capacity while leveraging existing grid connections.

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