Coal use drives sharp rise in U.S. power plant emissions amid summer heat
U.S. power plant emissions have surged to a three-year high, driven by a spike in coal use as utilities scramble to meet rising electricity demand during record summer heat and elevated natural gas prices.
Gavin Maguire reports for Reuters.
In short:
- U.S. power sector emissions rose 5% in the first five months of 2025, reaching 640 million metric tons, mainly due to a 20% increase in coal pollution as utilities shifted away from more expensive natural gas.
- Natural gas prices jumped more than 60% compared to early 2024, prompting a 4.2% drop in gas-fired electricity generation and a 14% rise in coal-fired generation through June.
- Power demand is expected to remain high through the summer due to widespread heat waves, further boosting fossil fuel use and emissions despite record solar power output.
Why this matters:
Coal remains one of the dirtiest sources of energy, and its resurgence in the U.S. power mix is pushing carbon emissions to troubling levels just as the country braces for more extreme summer heat. When electricity demand spikes, especially at night when solar power goes offline, utilities lean heavily on fossil fuels, exacerbating the very climate pressures driving heat waves. These emissions not only heat the planet further but also worsen air quality, affecting respiratory health, especially among children, the elderly, and people living near power plants. With gas prices high and renewable sources still not meeting total demand, the return to coal is setting back progress on both climate and public health fronts.
Related: Trump EPA claims power plant emissions aren’t harmful, contradicting climate science
