Coal energy in the U.S. - statistics & facts

For over a century coal was among the main sources of electricity generation in the United States. However, due to a surge in domestic natural gas production it lost its position as the largest contributor to the power mix in 2016. In the years since, decarbonization efforts and renewable gains have further diminished coal’s role in the U.S. power sector.

Coal consumption within the power sector

The electric power sector is by far the largest consumer of coal. As the use of coal power has declined over the past decade, so too decreased overall U.S. coal energy consumption with figures having stayed below 10,000 trillion British thermal units since 2022. Coal power plants are usually more heavily used in the summer months, when electricity demand is higher due to greater need for air conditioning.

Costs of coal for electricity generation and regional variances

Its comparatively cheap cost is one of the reasons why the power sector is holding on to coal. A look at natural gas vis a vis coal prices shows that coal prices are less volatile and often notably lower than natural gas prices, with the latter tied to oil production and as such the vagaries of the oil market. Texas tops the ranking for U.S. coal power capacity by state, although it is not the state with the most number of plants and is also not serviced by the leading U.S. coal power generating utilities. Duke Energy Carolinas, which provides electricity to customers in South Carolina, generates around 26 terawatt hours of coal power every year, more than any other utility in the country.

Outlook on a changing U.S. coal power landscape

U.S. coal power is expected to see the greatest reduction in annual production between 2025 and 2030 and is forecast to experience only minimal losses from then onward. In terms of future proofing existing coal plants, a 2024 analysis suggests that capital costs of a retrofitted coal plant in the U.S. would remain above 2,000 U.S. dollars per kilowatt regardless of carbon capture rate until at least 2030.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Country with the largest coal power plant capacity: China

Global coal power generation 2023: 10,480 TWh

Number of operational coal power plants in the U.S.: 204

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Current statistics on this topic

Coal consumption for electricity generation in the United States from 1950 to 2023 (in million short tons)

Fossil Fuel Energy

Coal power consumption in the U.S. 1950-2023

Number of operational coal-fired power plants in the United States as of 2024, by state

Fossil Fuel Energy

Coal power stations in the U.S. 2024 by state

Cost of coal and natural gas for electricity generation in the United States from 1980 to 2023 (in U.S. dollars per million British thermal units)

Prices, Marketing, and Trade

Natural gas vis-a-vis coal prices for energy generation in the U.S. 1980-2023

Overview

Basic Statistic Global operational coal-fired power stations by country 2024
Global operational coal-fired power stations by country 2024
Countries and territories with the largest number of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024
Basic Statistic Installed global coal power plant capacity in select countries 2024
Installed global coal power plant capacity in select countries 2024
Countries with largest installed capacity of coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024 (in gigawatts)
Basic Statistic Global coal power generation 2000-2023
Global coal power generation 2000-2023
Electricity production from coal worldwide from 2000 to 2023 (in terawatt hours)
Premium Statistic Global coal power generation by country 2023
Global coal power generation by country 2023
Leading coal-fired electricity generating countries/territories worldwide in 2023 (in terawatt hours)
Premium Statistic G20: change in coal, wind, and solar electricity generation 2022-2023
G20: change in coal, wind, and solar electricity generation 2022-2023
Year-on-year change in coal power production and wind and solar energy production in G20 countries between 2022 and 2023 (in terawatt-hours)

Consumption

Basic Statistic Coal power consumption in the U.S. 1950-2023
Coal power consumption in the U.S. 1950-2023
Coal consumption for electricity generation in the United States from 1950 to 2023 (in million short tons)
Basic Statistic Coal consumption in the U.S. by sector 1990-2023
Coal consumption in the U.S. by sector 1990-2023
Consumption of coal in the United States from 1990 to 2023, by sector (in trillion British thermal units)
Basic Statistic Coal energy consumption in the United States 2022, by state
Coal energy consumption in the United States 2022, by state
Leading states by coal consumption for electricity and heat generation in the United States in 2022 (in trillion British thermal units)
Basic Statistic U.S. consumption of coal per capita 2019-2023
U.S. consumption of coal per capita 2019-2023
Per capita consumption of coal in the United States from 2019 to 2023 (in pounds)

Generation

Basic Statistic Coal power stations in the U.S. 2024 by state
Coal power stations in the U.S. 2024 by state
Number of operational coal-fired power plants in the United States as of 2024, by state
Basic Statistic Coal power capacity in the U.S. by state 2024
Coal power capacity in the U.S. by state 2024
Net summer capacity of utility-scale coal-fired power plants in the United States as of 2024, by state (in megawatts)
Basic Statistic U.S. coal electricity generation 2008-2023
U.S. coal electricity generation 2008-2023
Electricity generation from coal in the United States from 2008 to 2023 (in terawatt hours)
Basic Statistic Coal plant capacity factors in the U.S. 2010-2023
Coal plant capacity factors in the U.S. 2010-2023
Capacity factor of coal power plants in the United States from 2010 to 2023
Premium Statistic Coal power production in the U.S. by utility 2023
Coal power production in the U.S. by utility 2023
Leading electric utilities by coal-fired electricity generation in the United States in 2023 (in terawatt-hours)
Basic Statistic Share of coal power plants with air pollution controls in the U.S. 1995-2022, by type
Share of coal power plants with air pollution controls in the U.S. 1995-2022, by type
Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type

Costs

Basic Statistic Natural gas vis-a-vis coal prices for energy generation in the U.S. 1980-2023
Natural gas vis-a-vis coal prices for energy generation in the U.S. 1980-2023
Cost of coal and natural gas for electricity generation in the United States from 1980 to 2023 (in U.S. dollars per million British thermal units)
Basic Statistic Coal energy prices 2012-2023
Coal energy prices 2012-2023
Average price for coal in the electric power sector in the United States from 2012 to 2023, with a forecast until 2025 (in U.S. dollars per million British thermal units)
Basic Statistic Coal costs for electricity generation in the U.S. 2005-2023
Coal costs for electricity generation in the U.S. 2005-2023
Average cost of coal for the electric power industry in the United States from 2005 to 2023 (in U.S. dollars per ton)

Outlook

Basic Statistic U.S. coal power generation forecast 2022-2050
U.S. coal power generation forecast 2022-2050
Projected coal power generation in the U.S. from 2022 to 2050 (in billion kilowatt hours)
Basic Statistic Coal consumption growth by the U.S. electric power sector 2010-2025
Coal consumption growth by the U.S. electric power sector 2010-2025
Annual change in electric power coal consumption in the United States from 2010 to 2023, with a forecast until 2025 (in million short tons)
Premium Statistic CAPEX for CCS retrofitting existing coal plants in the U.S. 2024-2050
CAPEX for CCS retrofitting existing coal plants in the U.S. 2024-2050
Forecast capital costs of retrofitting existing coal plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS) functions in the United States from 2024 to 2050, by capture rate (in U.S. dollars per kilowatt)

Country with the largest coal power plant capacity: China

Global coal power generation 2023: 10,480 TWh

Number of operational coal power plants in the U.S.: 204

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Coal energy in the U.S." and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

U.S. coal consumption for electricity generation 2023
387.17m short tons
Detailed statistics
Coal power consumption in the U.S. 1950-2023
State with the highest energy consumption from coal
Texas
Detailed statistics
Coal energy consumption in the United States 2022, by state

Electricity generation from coal in the U.S. 2023
675.3 TWh
Detailed statistics
U.S. coal electricity generation 2008-2023
Leading coal power generating U.S. state
Texas
Detailed statistics
Coal power production in the U.S. by state 2021
U.S. coal plant capacity factor 2023
42.1%
Detailed statistics
Coal plant capacity factors in the U.S. 2010-2023

U.S. coal powered generation fuel costs 2023
2.52 USD/m Btu
Detailed statistics
Coal energy prices 2012-2023
Average cost of coal for the electric power industry in the U.S. 2023
47.23 USD/t
Detailed statistics
Coal costs for electricity generation in the U.S. 2005-2023

Projected coal power generation in the U.S. in 2050
243 TWh
Detailed statistics
U.S. coal power generation forecast 2022-2050
Projected electric power sector coal consumption growth in the U.S. 2024
-13.67
Detailed statistics
Coal consumption growth by the U.S. electric power sector 2010-2025