The power needs of data centers will temporarily prolong the demand for coal, maintaining the reliability of the electric grid but delaying the nation's decarbonization goals, according to Moody's Ratings. The electricity demand from data centers could more than double to 35 gigawatts by 2030 compared to 17 gigawatts in 2022, according to a Moody's report published Monday. "It can be cost effective for them to supply coal to those power plants, and those power plants can, in turn, meet the incremental demand coming in from the new data centers," Sama said. The benefit to U.S. coal producers, however, will be temporary as data center developers transition to cleaner sources of power, according to Moody's. But sustained coal demand in the U.S. due to data centers could briefly lift prices before coal resumes its decline after a few years, according to Moody's.

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Persons: Elena Nadtotchi, Sandeep Sama, Sama, Joseph Craft, Consol Organizations: Coal, Resource Partners, Arch Resources, Consol Energy, CNBC, Resources, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, PJM, Alliance, Wall Street Locations: U.S, Appalachia, Virginia