Stringent emission regulations and alternative sources have reduced the use of the fossil fuel amid numerous planned facility shutdowns.
The total operating capacity of coal-fired power plants in the United States is set to drop to 145 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2028, a more than 15 percent decline from the 172 GW in operation as of May, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a July 14 statement.
The Midwest region has 10 coal plants scheduled to retire by 2028. This was followed by the Mid-Atlantic with five plants, Tennessee with four, and the Northwest with three sites. “On a regional basis, 58 percent of the planned coal capacity retirements are in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions,” EIA said.
“Coal consumption in the U.S. electric power sector has fallen since its peak in the late 2000s because of increased competition from other electricity sources, especially from natural gas and renewables,” the agency added.
“Furthermore, coal-fired power plants have been subject to regulations regarding emissions that require plants to add equipment, modify processes, or stop operation.”
For instance, a greenhouse gas rule finalized early last year under the Biden administration mandated existing coal-fired power plants to cut down carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent if they wish to operate beyond 2039.
However, things have changed under the Trump administration. Last month, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency was beginning a rule-making process to revise the greenhouse gas rule by December.
In its July 14 statement, the EIA said that the power plant retirement schedules may change as operators respond to shifting policies and other factors.
The agency cited the example of Maryland’s Talen Energy Corporation, which in January announced that the retirement of its Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner power plants would be extended to May 31, 2029, four years later than the earlier deadline of May 31, 2025.
The decision was taken to provide “the power necessary to maintain grid and transmission reliability in and around the City of Baltimore,” Talen said.
Changes in regulations create uncertainty in retirement decisions of coal-fired plants, the EIA said, adding that the EPA was currently “reconsidering several regulations” affecting such facilities.
As an example, EIA cited the EPA’s April 2024 rules limiting the discharge of toxic metals and other pollutants in wastewater originating from coal power plants. These strict regulations, set to come into effect in 2028, are under EPA reconsideration, the agency said.
