February 11, 2025--Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--It's probably too early to declare victory, but several factors are combining to create a more upbeat outlook for U.S. thermal coal, sources tell Industrial Info Resources. Various factors are behind the improved outlook, sources said, including surging electric demand growth from current and projected data centers and artificial intelligence (AI), President Donald Trump's commitment to fossil fuels and rising concern over electric reliability given the significant retirements of coal-fired generation and other types of dispatchable generation that have taken place over the last 10-15 years. Companies featured: Dominion Energy Incorporated (NYSE:D), Southern Company (NYSE:SO), Vistra Energy Corporation (NYSE:VST), Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:LNT), Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU)