Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management

09/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2025 14:37

34th Clean Coal Day International Symposium

  • Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, and esteemed partners from the Japan Carbon Frontier Organization,
  • It is an honor to speak before you as a representative of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy.
  • I am grateful that, under the priorities of the new Trump administration, we are now able participate in fully in these vital forums, which were not always prioritized in recent years.
  • Today, our focus turns to the enduring role of coal as a cornerstone of reliable energy supply, exploring its contribution as baseload power both in Japan and the United States, and its potential as a fuel for future generations to meet surging demand.
  • This conversation builds on the longstanding bilateral energy partnership between the United States and Japan, which has driven advancements in energy security, technological innovation, and resilient supply chains for critical resources over many decades.
  • This longstanding partnership is exemplified by our trade in liquified natural gas, where Japan stands as one of the world's largest importers of American energy.
  • In fact, recent milestone agreements, such as those finalized this year between Japan's JERA and U.S. LNG producers, are projected to support over 50,000 American jobs and add more than $200 billion to our GDP while ensuring stable supply for Japan's energy needs.
  • Equally vital is our cooperation on coal, where the United States has long served as a dependable exporter to Japan.
  • In 2023, the U.S. exported around 100 million short tons of coal globally, with Japan as a significant recipient, particularly for high-quality metallurgical coal essential to steel production and economic infrastructure.
  • And now, in 2025, coal remains a foundational baseload energy source for both nations, delivering the consistent, dispatchable power essential for grid stability and economic resilience.
  • In the United States, coal continues to serve as a reliable baseload provider, contributing approximately 15% of total electricity generation in 2024, with an output of around 653 terawatt-hours.
  • Despite a decline from its peak of over 50% in the early 2000s, coal-fired plants play a critical role in regions like the Midwest and Appalachia, where they ensure uninterrupted supply during peak loads.
  • In Japan, coal holds an even more prominent position as a baseload cornerstone, accounting for about 32% of the electricity generation in 2024.
  • Coal-fired plants provide the stable, around-the-clock power necessary for Japan's industrial backbone, including steel production and manufacturing.
  • Yet as we acknowledge coal's pivotal role in providing baseload power today, we must also confront spiking energy demand, driven primarily by the explosive surge in data centers.
  • The emergence of artificial intelligence is reshaping the energy landscape of both the United States and Japan. For example, the recently opened TY1 datacenter in Saitama City draws an impressive 96 MW of power, consuming the equivalent of 170,000 Japanese households.
  • Japan's demand for energy is expected to grow to 785 TWh by 2050, representing a 40% increase from today.
  • In the United States, this boom is pushing electricity usage to new highs, with datacenters expected to account for 44% of demand growth by 2028.
  • Meeting the surge in demand requires energy that is affordable and reliable - key characteristics of coal, which already serves as a vital source of baseload generation.
  • That is why President Trump signed Executive Order 14261, which states outright that coal is essential to our national and economic security.
  • That is why Secretary Chris Wright affirmed that the Department of Energy will focus on "Advancing Energy Addition, Not Subtraction."
  • And that is why the DOE announced the designation of coal used in the production of steel as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020.
  • As many of you know, the United States has the largest coal reserves in the world, over a 500-year supply at current levels of domestic production.
  • This provides an excellent opportunity for Japan and the U.S. to strengthen its 70-year relationship. By leveraging our energy partnership, coal has the potential to serve as a vital component to our shared effort of meeting energy needs for future generations.
  • There is an enormous amount that we can do, working together, to make the world a better, safer, more energy-secure place.
  • Thank you, and good luck with the symposium.
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