Peabody announced that Jim Grech, its President and Chief Executive Officer since 2021, has been named Chair of the National Coal Council (NCC). The appointment was formalized at the White House on January 15, 2026. Grech brings over 35 years of experience in the coal and natural resources sector and serves on multiple industry boards, including America’s Power and the National Mining Association. His selection signals Peabody’s strengthened influence on federal energy policy, as the NCC advises the Secretary of Energy on strategic coal issues, from production and marketing to technology and regulatory matters.

U.S. coal-fueled power generation climbed an estimated 13 percent in 2025, driven by extended plant lifespans, cost advantages relative to alternatives, and surging electricity needs from artificial intelligence and data center expansions. This domestic uptick contributed to record global coal demand of 8.8 billion tonnes last year, according to the International Energy Agency. Investors should note that existing coal assets remain central to meeting peak electricity requirements and that policy advocacy led by Peabody’s leadership may further bolster coal’s role in the nation’s energy mix.

Founded in the 1880s, Peabody is the largest coal producer in the United States, operating eight thermal and one metallurgical mine domestically, alongside five metallurgical and two seaborne thermal mines in Australia. Its North Antelope Rochelle Mine in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin is the world’s largest surface coal mine, accounting for approximately 12 percent of U.S. coal production. Peabody’s diversified portfolio spans energy-grade and steel-making coal, positioning the company to capitalize on both electricity generation and industrial markets while exploring opportunities in rare earth elements and critical minerals.