U.S. Coal Miner Alliance Investing in EV Charging Company

Alliance Resource Partners LP, a U.S. coal producer with mines in five states, is investing in an electric-vehicle charging company.

Alliance is taking an equity stake that makes it a “significant minority shareholder” in Francis Energy LLC, according to a statement Monday that didn’t disclose the dollar value of the investment. Both companies are based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Alliance will also get a seat on Francis’s board.

The investment reflects growing momentum of efforts to electrify the U.S. auto fleet, a shift that will boost demand for power. While utilities are increasingly moving away from coal, ...