Daniel Connell on coal innovation
From ACC's Coal Nation Podcast: Episode 7 — Coal’s Renaissance in Action with Dan Connell · · American Coal Council
“Touchstone Advanced Composites is a company that takes in coal, uses the coal to make carbon foam, uses that carbon foam as a tooling or mold material to make carbon fiber composite aerospace parts and then actually makes those parts. Coal's coming in one side and aircraft or spacecraft parts are going out the other side.”
On , Daniel Connell, Senior Vice President of CONSOL Innovations at CORE NATURAL RESOURCES INC, spoke about coal innovation during ACC's Coal Nation Podcast: Episode 7 — Coal’s Renaissance in Action with Dan Connell on American Coal Council.
About Daniel Connell
Dan Connell, senior vice president of innovations at Core Natural Resources, appeared on the American Coal Council's "Coal Nation" podcast on September 3, 2025. He discussed the company's efforts to develop new uses for coal, including a joint venture called Seabbat that aims to use domestic carbon resources as a substitute for imported graphite in anode materials. Connell also described Touchstone Advanced Composites, a subsidiary that converts coal into carbon foam used as tooling for carbon fiber composite aerospace parts. He stated that coal-based building products offer advantages over wood in moisture, mold, and fire resistance. Connell commented on the merger that formed Core Natural Resources, describing it as bringing together two companies with complementary assets and a nationwide U.S. presence. He noted the importance of metallurgical coal and expressed appreciation for recognition of its role. Connell said the industry could benefit from government support in the innovation and R&D phase, as well as early offtakers like the Department of Defense to reduce market risk. He also emphasized the need for the next generation to receive a balanced message about natural resources to realize opportunities in the industry.