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Coal Facts

0K MW
Today, the U.S. coal fleet is made of approximately 400 individual coal-fired electric generating units representing roughly 194,000 megawatts (MW) of electric generating capacity.
0%
In 2022, Coal supplied 21% of electricity generated in the U.S.
0 States
Last year, 42 states relied on coal for electricity. Coal provided at least half the electricity in eight states and at least one-quarter of the electricity in 18 states. Coal was the largest source of electricity in 15 states.
0B Tons
The U.S. has over 252 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves. That’s more than 450 years of coal at current production levels.

Approximately two-thirds of the coal fleet’s generating capacity is located in RTO/ISO regions.

  • Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) … 49,400 MW
  • PJM … 43,900 MW
  • Southwest Power Pool (SPP) … 20,800 MW
  • Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) … 14,400 MW

  • RTO/ISO regions have 64% of all generating capacity in the United States.

The price of coal is expected to remain low and relatively unchanged next year. But coal plant closures expose consumers to higher and volatile natural gas prices.

0% +
More than 60 percent of the U.S. coal fleet that existed in 2010 has retired or announced plans to retire by 2030.
0% +
Coal provided 50% or more of the electricity in 8 states, more than 30% in 17 states.
0K MW
Between 2022 and 2030, 86,000 MW of coal are announced to retire.
0 M Tons
Over 500 million tons of coal were consumed for electricity production last year.
0%
The U.S. electric sector has reduced carbon emissions by 33 percent since 2005.

* EIA Electric Data Browser
** EIA, U.S. Coal Reserves