Wisconsin power plant could benefit from Trump’s $425 million coal push
The Trump administration plans to allocate $425 million to support 13 coal power plants in 10 states, using the Defense Production Act to meet rising electricity demand and preserve jobs. Madison-based utility Alliant Energy has applied for a $19 million grant to extend the life of its coal units at the Columbia Energy Center near Portage, Wisconsin, which it previously planned to retire.
The Trump administration has announced a $425 million plan to bolster 13 coal power plants across 10 states, invoking the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to address increasing electricity demand and protect coal industry jobs. President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, emphasized that all recipient plants are located in states he won in the 2024 election, with U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) noting Wisconsin's key role.
Alliant Energy, a Madison-based utility, confirmed its application for a $19 million grant to extend the operational life of its coal-fired units at the Columbia Energy Center near Portage, Wisconsin. The utility had previously intended to decommission these units before 2030. Trump stated that these investments would upgrade facilities, ensuring reliability for the electrical grid, maintaining low electricity prices, and supporting the nation's artificial intelligence boom. The administration also plans to distribute an additional $200 million in Department of Energy grants to reopen a Maryland coal plant and construct new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, marking the first such projects in over a decade.