How Many Coal Plants Remain Active in the US in 2025?
As of 2025, approximately 224 coal-fired power plants remain operational in the U.S., a sharp decline from over 600 plants in the early 2000s. This reduction stems from stricter environmental regulations, cheaper natural gas, and renewable energy growth. Coal now generates just 16% of U.S. electricity, down from 52% in 1990.
How Many Coal Plants Are Operational in the US Today?
The U.S. currently operates 224 coal plants, per Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. These facilities span 44 states, with Texas, Indiana, and Kentucky housing the most. Many plants run at reduced capacity or serve as seasonal backups. Since 2010, 373 coal units have retired, eliminating 59 GW of capacity—enough to power 40 million homes.
| State | Active Plants | Peak Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 18 | 14.2 GW |
| Indiana | 15 | 9.8 GW |
| Kentucky | 13 | 7.4 GW |
Why Are Coal Plants Closing Across the US?
Four factors drive coal plant closures: 1) Natural gas prices 68% lower than 2008 peaks, 2) Wind/solar costs dropping 90% since 2009, 3) EPA mercury/air toxics standards requiring $18B in upgrades, and 4) Utility decarbonization pledges covering 75% of U.S. customers. Plants now average 45 years old—beyond typical 30-40 year lifespans.
The transition accelerates through market mechanisms like capacity payments. Grid operators now prioritize “dispatchable” resources, with coal plants increasingly limited to winter peaks. Recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rulings require coal facilities to maintain 30-day fuel supplies during extreme weather, adding $12M annual costs per plant. This regulatory pressure combines with investor demands—BlackRock and Vanguard now require climate risk disclosures from utility companies, making coal investments less attractive.
How Do Coal Plant Closures Affect Local Economies?
Plant closures eliminate $1.3M annually in local tax revenue per facility. Mines supplying plants average 75 jobs each, often in counties with fewer than 10,000 residents. The DOE’s Energy Communities Alliance identifies 86 “coal transition hotspots” needing workforce retraining. Successful transitions like Wyoming’s TerraPower nuclear project show replacement potential.
Communities face multiple challenges: shrinking school budgets from lost property taxes, abandoned infrastructure maintenance, and healthcare gaps as workers lose employer-sponsored insurance. The Appalachian Regional Commission reports 23% of former coal workers experience prolonged unemployment. However, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $11.3 billion for abandoned mine land reclamation, creating temporary construction jobs. Pennsylvania’s Mine Drainage Treatment Initiative demonstrates how environmental remediation can employ former miners while addressing legacy pollution.
“The coal fleet’s decline reflects market realities, not just policy. Plants designed for 80% capacity factors now average 40%. Even with carbon capture, levelized costs hit $147/MWh versus $40 for solar+storage. The transition creates challenges but also opportunities in grid resilience and critical minerals.” — Energy Sector Analyst, ClearView Energy Partners
FAQs
- How Many Coal Jobs Exist Today?
- The coal industry employs 39,000 workers in mining and generation—down from 86,000 in 2012. Renewable energy now provides 442,000 jobs nationwide.
- What Replaces Closed Coal Plants?
- 62% of retired coal capacity gets replaced by natural gas, 28% by wind/solar, and 10% through efficiency gains. Battery storage additions surged 120% in 2023 alone.
- When Will the Last US Coal Plant Close?
- Analysts project the final coal plants could retire by 2040, though some Midwestern units may operate until 2050 under special grid reliability contracts.