U.S. Coal-Fired Capacity Retirements in 2025 Hit 15-Year Low
In 2025, the U.S. electric power sector retired 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired generating capacity, marking the lowest level of retirements since 2010. Initially, operators planned to retire 8.5 GW, but 4.8 GW of these retirements were delayed, and plans for 1.1 GW were canceled. Additionally, 1.2 GW of capacity planned for 2027 was also retained. The U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency orders to keep several coal plants operational to ensure grid reliability. These orders affected plants in Michigan, Washington, Indiana, and Colorado. The largest retirement was the Intermountain Power Project in Utah, which was partly replaced by a new natural gas facility. Looking ahead, 6.4 GW of coal capacity is scheduled for retirement in 2026, though these plans may change. 
