The Future of Coal, Grid Security, and the Fight Against Regulatory Overreach

In this high-voltage episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Rachel Gleason, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, to discuss the future of coal, the reliability of America’s power grid, and the consequences of top-down energy policy. Gleason gives a behind-the-scenes look at how federal and state regulations have systematically dismantled coal-fired generation in Pennsylvania—once a powerhouse of domestic energy—and how some of the most reliable plants are now being forced offline by policies driven more by politics than reality. She explains how President Trump’s recent executive orders are reversing course by removing oppressive regulations and restoring the planning certainty needed to invest in energy production again. From the Clean Power Plan to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, Rachel details the flawed data and hidden costs behind these rules and how they’ve crippled long-term investment in reliable, base-load energy. She also covers the ongoing legal battle over Pennsylvania’s attempt to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)—a de facto carbon tax that could raise costs while other states like Maryland simply import energy they refuse to produce. Gleason and From also examine the growing energy demand from AI and data centers, and why intermittent renewables and small nuclear reactors aren’t ready to meet that need. Gleason makes a strong case for a diversified, “all-of-the-above” energy approach—one where coal continues to play a vital role in national security, economic growth, and grid reliability. If you care about affordable energy, American jobs, and ending the political war on coal, this episode is essential listening.