The EIA first notes that just 2.6 GW of coal capacity was retired in 2026, the least since 2010. I should point out that most of the plants scheduled to retire are likely operating at reduced capacity, or utilization, for various reasons, often related to the plan to retire them. They are often older, less efficient plants. For 2026, the original plan was to retire 8.5 GW of capacity, of which 4.8 GW capacity was delayed, and 1.1 GW (two plants) was cancelled. An additional 1.2 GW scheduled to retire in 2027 has been cancelled as well.
The biggest coal plant
retirement in 2026 was the 1.8 GW Intermountain Power Project in Utah, which
has been replaced by a 1.017 GW combined cycle natural gas plant, which became
operational in late 2025.
Below is a list of the five
plants, representing the 4.8 GW of planned retirement that were delayed by
emergency orders from the U.S. Dept of Energy. All plants subject to delays are shown on
the map below.
Most of those plants are
still scheduled to retire in 2026, but the DOE could issue emergency orders
for further delays as it did with the J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan. 2.2 GW
of planned retirements were delayed, not by the DOE, but by the operators in Wisconsin, Colorado,
and Maryland, with one expected to convert to natural gas by 2028.
Current plans call for
retiring 6.4 GW of coal capacity (4% of the U.S. coal-fired fleet) in 2026, but
those plans could change, especially if more emergency orders are issued.
References:
U.S.
coal-fired generating capacity retired in 2025 was the least in 15 years.
Energy Information Administration. April 13, 2026. U.S. coal-fired
generating capacity retired in 2025 was the least in 15 years - U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA)
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