The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized a $1.5 billion loan to Wabash Valley Resources, LLC, aimed at reviving a coal gasification plant in West Terre Haute, Indiana. The project will convert the facility, which has been inactive since 2016, into an ammonia fertilizer production site using coal from a local mine and petroleum coke as feedstock.
According to DOE officials, the upgraded plant is expected to produce 500,000 metric tons of anhydrous ammonia annually. This output will help reduce reliance on imported fertilizers that currently come from regions such as Canada, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Russia.
“For too long, America has been dependent on foreign sources of fertilizer,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are changing that by putting America first, relying on American coal, American workers, and American innovation to power our farms and feed our families.”
The initiative is designed to strengthen domestic supply chains for agricultural inputs in the Eastern Corn Belt region. It also aims to lower costs for farmers and consumers while supporting national food security through increased domestic production capacity.
DOE stated that the loan was evaluated under new guidance issued by Secretary Wright as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to promote energy independence and responsible management of taxpayer funds. The Wabash project represents the second closed loan under the Energy Dominance Financing Program established by recent federal legislation.
“Today’s announcement highlights DOE’s commitment to achieving President Trump’s national security and energy dominance goals by securing domestic fertilizer supply for farmers in the Corn Belt and ensuring the American people’s access to reliable, abundant, and affordable energy,” according to DOE officials.
