January 26, 2026 – We’ve got to hand it to the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board… they nailed it. In the midst of this weekend’s of blizzards and ice storms that wrecked areas the Southeast to the Northeast, their column, “Thank Heaven for Coal Power in the Cold,” says what a lot of Americans are thinking but don’t often hear in the media. When freezing temperatures hit and the electric grid was under serious strain, it wasn’t wind or solar that came to the rescue. It was coal, natural gas, and other reliable energy sources that kept the lights on and homes warm. The Journal’s piece cuts through the noise and reminds us why energy reliability should never take a back seat to politics.
The WSJ’s editorial doesn’t just recap a cold snap. It captures a larger truth that too many overlook. When extreme weather hits and demand for electricity surges, it is the backbone of American energy, the proven, always-available sources, that step up to keep homes warm and lights on.
They wrote, “The weekend’s arctic blast has put much of the U.S. grid through a stress test and served as another alert about the growing risks to electric-power reliability. Americans can be grateful the Biden crowd didn’t succeed in forcing all coal plants to shut down.”
They’re right. This past weekend’s arctic blast was more than just a test of the weather. It was a stress test for the American grid and the decisions policymakers have made over the past decade. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the risk of electricity shortages during extreme cold was well known heading into winter. Those warnings proved accurate.
In regions like the Midwest and Northeast, electricity demand soared. At the same time, natural gas supplies tightened, and some plants were knocked offline by the cold. In response, grid operators and utilities had to act fast. The Department of Energy waived emissions rules so fossil fuel plants could operate at full power. And coal delivered. In the Midwest’s MISO grid, coal provided 40 percent of total generation at peak. In PJM and Texas, it supplied a significant share alongside natural gas and nuclear.
This was not theory. This was energy policy in the real world. Coal, long targeted for closure by the previous administration, helped prevent rolling blackouts and kept the grid stable for millions of Americans.
The editorial also points out a harsh irony. In places like New England and New York, anti-pipeline policies have made it harder for natural gas to reach the region. That means fewer options when demand spikes. As a result, New England was forced to burn oil to meet electricity needs. In some areas, more power was produced from wood and trash than from wind.
These are the direct results of policy choices. Blocking pipelines and retiring fuel-secure plants in the name of climate goals may seem virtuous on paper. But when families are told to turn down their heat or prepare for blackouts, the costs become real.
The truth is that intermittent energy sources like wind and solar cannot be relied on during long stretches of bad weather. Batteries, while improving, are limited in duration and scale. This winter storm revealed that again. When conditions are harshest, reliable energy is what stands between comfort and crisis.
Fueling Freedom supports an energy strategy based on strength, affordability, and common sense. We believe in an all-of-the-above approach, but only if it starts with what works. Our position is simple: American families should never be left vulnerable to grid failures because politicians want to pick winners and losers in the energy market.
Coal remains a critical part of our national energy mix, especially during high-demand periods. So does natural gas. So does nuclear. The Biden administration’s efforts to shut down coal and cancel infrastructure projects were not just misguided—they were dangerous. President Trump’s decision to reverse course and prioritize grid reliability is not just welcome. It is essential.
The WSJ editorial points out that the Department of Energy has already issued emergency orders to prevent coal plants from closing prematurely. That is the right step. The grid is under growing pressure from AI data centers, electrification, and manufacturing growth.
We need more power, not less. And we need that power to be available every day, in every kind of weather.
That means permitting reform to build transmission and fuel infrastructure. It means continued investment in clean coal technologies. And it means recognizing that America’s energy future cannot depend entirely on fair weather or foreign supply chains.
At Fueling Freedom, we are committed to supporting policies that secure America’s energy future. That includes fighting for the continued use of reliable power, protecting energy affordability for working families, and telling the truth about what keeps this country running.
So once again, thank you to the Wall Street Journal editorial board for cutting through the noise and calling it like it is.