Coal stockpiles strain US power sector as demand wanes

Massive coal reserves are sitting unused at U.S. power plants, creating financial challenges amid lower demand for coal-fired energy.

Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill.

In short:

Power plants have amassed 138 million tons of coal, valued at $6.5 billion, due to declining coal consumption.
Competition from cheaper natural gas and renewable energy has made coal-fired electricity less viable.
U.S. coal-burning has halved since 2015, with further declines anticipated as more coal plants retire by 2025.

Key quote:

“No power producer wants that much money idly sitting around. But it has become much harder to burn that coal without losing money.”

— Report authors, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis

Why this matters:

As renewable energy becomes more dominant, coal-fired power continues to decline. This shift impacts utilities, miners and the broader economy. Managing excess coal stockpiles could lead to reduced coal production, affecting jobs and energy markets.

Related EHN coverage:

thehill.com

Coal stockpiles strain US power sector as demand wanes

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