U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright made a stop at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on Wednesday, continuing his nationwide tour of all 17 Department of Energy labs. During his visit, he emphasized the critical role West Virginia and NETL play in shaping the country’s energy future.
Wright toured the Morgantown campus, including the under-construction Computational Science and Engineering Center, met with researchers, and learned about cutting-edge projects underway at the facility. NETL is best known for its work in fossil fuel research, with a focus on coal and natural gas—two of the world’s leading sources of electricity.
“Energy is about humans,” Wright said. “We want to make people’s lives better. That means more energy, lower-cost energy, more jobs—and yes, winning the AI arms race.”
He also expressed support for the One Big Beautiful Bill, a massive budget reconciliation bill moving through Congress, which he described as “critical for the energy world.” The bill includes key reforms in subsidies and penalties that Wright believes will better align the energy sector with future goals.
Defending the Role of Coal
Despite the increasing interest in solar and wind power, Wright remains firm on coal’s importance. In the PJM energy grid—which serves 13 states—most new project requests are solar, but he says coal still matters.
“The future for coal is long and bright,” Wright said. “Coal still provides one-third of the electricity globally—more than solar and wind combined—and it’s reliable day and night.”
On peak winter demand days, like January 20, coal and gas supplied 70% of PJM’s power, compared to just 3% from wind and solar. Even during recent heatwaves, wind and solar only accounted for 8% of energy supply.
Wright made clear that one of his top priorities is stopping the unnecessary shutdowns of power plants. While some plants may be outdated, many still have useful lifespans and are crucial to grid stability. This year alone, 40 coal plants are slated for closure—something Wright hopes to reverse.
“If you’re going to add capacity to meet growing energy needs, especially for AI data centers, the first step is to stop shrinking the capacity we already have,” he said.
Data Centers and National Labs
Wright also addressed the growing need for AI and data centers, which demand vast amounts of electricity. He proposed a practical solution—building data centers on national lab land. These centers could share computational power with the labs, creating a partnership that benefits both government research and private innovation.
“You will see data centers built on national lab property,” Wright confirmed.
West Virginia’s Bright Energy Outlook
In closing, Wright praised West Virginia’s energy legacy and its potential for future growth. With abundant natural gas, oil, and coal, plus new ventures like Form Energy’s iron-air battery plant in Weirton, he sees the state as a rising hub for energy innovation.
“I think the future of energy here in West Virginia is super exciting,” Wright said. “This is a business-friendly state with deep roots in energy and a real opportunity to lead in emerging technologies.”
As the world’s demand for power grows—especially with the rise of AI—leaders like Wright are looking to places like West Virginia to help fuel the future.
