川普簽署四道令，試圖延壽煤電回應AI用電潮

美國總統川普於本週簽署一系列行政命令，試圖逆轉拜登政府對燃煤發電的環保限制，並將其重新納入美國能源版圖。這波行動不僅放寬環保規範、要求延後燃煤電廠退役，甚至將AI數據中心的能源需求視為復興煤電的機會，引發產業與環保界的高度關注。

美國燃煤電力佔比十年腰斬，川普試圖扭轉趨勢

U.S. President Donald Trump this week signed a series of executive orders aimed at reversing the Biden administration’s environmental restrictions on coal-fired power, seeking to reintegrate coal into America’s energy mix. The move, which loosens environmental regulations, delays coal plant retirements, and positions AI data centers’ energy demand as a rationale for reviving coal, has sparked strong reactions from both the energy industry and environmental advocates.

根據美國聯邦能源監管委員會（FERC）資料，截至2024年初，美國燃煤發電裝置容量為201吉瓦（GW），僅佔全國總裝置容量的15%，相比2015年底的305 GW（佔比26%）大幅下滑。過去十年，煤電在美國能源結構中的地位迅速萎縮，主因包括天然氣崛起、再生能源價格下跌，以及環保法規趨嚴。

但隨著AI應用與大型數據中心對電力需求激增，川普政府認為這是燃煤電廠「重返舞台」的契機。他強調：「我們會讓那些煤礦工人繼續工作，不要驚慌，我們會讓電廠重新啟動，用乾淨、漂亮的煤炭發電。」

Coal’s Share Halved Over a Decade - Trump Aims to Reverse the Trend

According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as of early 2024, the U.S. had 201 gigawatts (GW) of installed coal-fired capacity, representing just 15% of the national total - down sharply from 305 GW (26%) at the end of 2015. Over the past decade, coal’s role in the U.S. energy mix has rapidly declined, driven by the rise of natural gas, falling renewable energy costs, and stricter environmental regulations.

四道行政命令：放寬規範、對抗州法、推動AI佈局煤電基礎

川普於週二一口氣簽署四道行政命令，核心目標圍繞著「讓煤電延壽並再次發揮戰略價值」，包括：

此外，能源部（DOE）亦宣布將為煤電相關項目提供貸款擔保，支持電廠進行基礎設施升級、提高效率或重新啟動。

能源專家：市場現實無法改變，煤電成本高、壽命短、沒人願蓋新廠

儘管川普強勢介入政策面，但多數能源經濟學者對其實際影響持保留態度。Grid Strategies執行長 Rob Gramlich 表示：

However, with surging electricity demand from AI applications and large data centers, the Trump administration views this as an opportunity for coal’s comeback. “We will keep our coal miners working. Don’t panic - we’ll get the power plants running again, using clean, beautiful coal,” Trump declared.

Four Executive Orders: Loosening Rules, Challenging State Laws, and Tying Coal to AI Growth

On Tuesday, Trump signed four executive orders focused on “extending the life of coal plants and restoring their strategic value,” including:

Additionally, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced it will offer loan guarantees for coal-related projects, supporting infrastructure upgrades, efficiency improvements, or plant restarts.

「殺死美國煤電的是頁岩氣革命，不是政府法規。只要沒有禁掉天然氣壓裂技術，煤電就無法翻身。」

他指出，大多數燃煤電廠老舊且維運成本高，即使政府補貼，也難以長期運作。根據能源智庫Energy Innovation於2023年發布的研究，美國幾乎所有燃煤電廠的運營成本，都高於新建的太陽能、風電與儲能系統。

此外，能源顧問公司Capstone認為，幾乎沒有業者會申請DOE針對煤電的新貸款，認為該政策實際上僅可能輔助煤電轉氣（coal-to-gas switching）。

PJM地區已有13.9GW燃煤電廠申請MATS豁免，電網營運商支持延役

在川普放寬MATS的同時，美國東岸最大的區域電網營運商PJM Interconnection也表示支持豁免措施。截至4月4日，已有總容量13.9 GW、分布在五州的10座燃煤電廠提出申請，包括：

賓州：Talen Energy旗下Keystone與Conemaugh

Experts: Market Forces Still Reign - Coal Is Costly, Aging, and Unattractive for New Builds

Despite Trump’s aggressive policy shift, many energy economists remain skeptical about its practical impact. Rob Gramlich, CEO of Grid Strategies, noted:

“What killed U.S. coal power was the shale gas revolution, not government regulations. As long as hydraulic fracturing for natural gas remains legal, coal won’t make a comeback.”

He emphasized that most coal plants are aging and expensive to maintain, making long-term operations difficult even with subsidies. A 2023 report by think tank Energy Innovation found that virtually all U.S. coal plants have higher operating costs than newly built solar, wind, or storage systems.

Consulting firm Capstone also expressed doubt that many companies will apply for DOE’s new coal plant loans, suggesting the policy might only support coal-to-gas switching.

13.9 GW of Coal Plants Seek MATS Waivers, PJM Backs Delay

As Trump eases MATS regulations, PJM Interconnection, the largest regional grid operator on the U.S. East Coast, voiced support for waivers. As of April 4, ten coal plants across five states, totaling 13.9 GW, have filed for exemptions:

俄亥俄州：Buckeye Power的Cardinal與Vistra的Miami Fort

肯塔基州：East Kentucky Power的Cooper與Spurlock

西維吉尼亞州：FirstEnergy的Fort Martin與Harrison，Dominion的Mount Storm

伊利諾州：Vistra的Kincaid

PJM在公開信中指出：「若這些電廠能延長營運，將有助於我們在尖峰負載期間維持電網穩定。」

分析：AI與氣候政策角力下，煤電恐成「戰略備胎」角色

此次川普政府將AI數據中心與燃煤電廠綁定的策略，象徵著氣候政策與數位基礎建設需求間的潛在矛盾。AI模型訓練與大型伺服器運作耗電驚人，尤其是微軟、谷歌等科技巨頭正大量興建資料中心，使得「能源可近性」成為選址關鍵。

In a public letter, PJM stated: “Extending the operation of these plants could help maintain grid stability during peak load periods.”

Analysis: As AI Meets Climate Policy, Coal May Become a ‘Strategic Backup’

The Trump administration’s strategy of linking AI data centers to coal-fired power plants highlights a growing tension between climate goals and digital infrastructure needs. AI model training and massive server operations consume enormous amounts of electricity, and tech giants like Microsoft and Google are rapidly building new data centers - making energy availability a key factor in site selection.

While coal is highly polluting, it offers advantages like dispatchable power, 24/7 reliability, and existing grid connections. In certain regions, these traits may lead to coal being reassessed for its strategic utility. As Devin Hartman, energy policy director at the R Street Institute, warned:

而燃煤電廠雖然污染高，但具備即時出力、24小時穩定供電與既有電網連接等優勢，某些地區的確可能被重新評估其戰略價值。正如R Street Institute的能源政策主管Devin Hartman 警告：

「若行政命令變成干預市場的工具，可能反而抑制新電力資源投資，因為舊有資產難以退出，市場無法更新。」

“If executive orders become tools for interfering with market dynamics, they may suppress investment in new energy resources. Old assets won’t retire, and the market can’t modernize.”

Conclusion: Coal’s Future - A Rebirth or Final Flicker?

結語：燃煤的未來，是重生還是餘燼？

川普政府此波行動反映出一種「逆全球趨勢」的能源思維，在氣候變遷壓力日益加劇的今日，重啟煤電的舉動勢必引發國際爭議。但從另一角度來看，這也凸顯美國內部在能源轉型中的張力：如何在氣候目標、產業現實與政治立場間尋找平衡，仍是一條未竟之路。

This latest wave of coal-related executive actions reflects an “against-the-global-trend” mindset in U.S. energy policy. As climate change pressures intensify, the push to revive coal will undoubtedly face international scrutiny. Yet it also reveals internal tensions within America’s energy transition - struggling to balance climate goals, industrial realities, and political ideologies.

而「乾淨煤炭」是否真能復興？當AI與氣候並重，未來的能源選擇將變得更加複雜。

Whether “clean coal” can truly be resurrected remains uncertain. As both AI and climate demands grow, the path forward for U.S. energy choices is becoming ever more complex.