> falling back to coal thanks mostly to AI

citation needed

There is an enormous push to build and power data centers in the DC / Northern Virginia region, and there's legislation in West Virginia right now requiring all coal-fired power plants to operate at at least 69% capacity at all times to support it.

> “West Virginia has numerous coal plants that have powered this country for decades. We need these plants to remain operational,” [WV Governor] Morrisey said. “… We will never turn our backs on our existing coal plants and we will work with the federal government to pursue new coal-fired generation.”

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/09/11/morrisey-shares-new...

https://wvpublic.org/story/energy-environment/data-center-bi...

https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?bil...

https://fortune.com/2025/08/31/ai-data-center-boom-old-coal-...