Heartland Institute Pushes Coal for AI Data Centers at ALEC Meeting

The Heartland Institute, a climate denial group, urged state lawmakers at the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) 52nd annual meeting in Indianapolis in July 2025 to burn coal and fossil fuels to power data centers for AI and cryptocurrency. Heartland President James Taylor claimed the climate crisis does not exist and advocated for more conventional energy over renewables. The group's presentation included false claims about temperatures and CO2. ALEC has since adopted model policies favoring fossil fuels, and at least 15 bills based on ALEC models were introduced in statehouses, with laws passed in Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Louisiana, and Ohio. Heartland took credit for a Louisiana law de-prioritizing emissions concerns. The push comes amid a surge in U.S. coal use, with a proposed 1.25 GW coal plant in Alaska and the Trump administration forcing utilities to keep aging coal plants open. Despite rising costs and environmental concerns, Heartland and ALEC continue to promote coal, leveraging the data center boom to reverse green commitments. The Information Technology Industry Council, representing major tech companies, sits on ALEC's Private Enterprise Advisory Council alongside Koch Companies. DeSmog reported that at least 15 coal plants have delayed retirements since Trump took office. The International Energy Agency found global coal consumption rose 0.4% in 2025, with U.S. coal use up 10%.