US Coal Retirement Rate Needs to Increase by 66% to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach

The United States possesses the largest operating coal fleet in the OECD at 233 GW, with most plants over 30 years old. To meet the goal of a full coal phase-out by 2030, the US must increase its average annual retirement rate from 15 GW to 25 GW, a 66% increase. Current legislation, such as the Build Back Better Framework, is deemed insufficient to achieve this timeline, particularly after the removal of the Clean Energy Performance Program. The document suggests that the Biden administration should instead leverage Environmental Protection Agency regulations on air, water, and waste, and support local state-level policies and advocacy to accelerate the transition to a carbon-free power sector by 2035.

• To achieve a full phase-out of coal-fired units by 2030, the United States must increase its average annual retirement rate from 15 GW (the average since 2015) to 25 GW, representing a 66% increase.
• Current US coal capacity is not on track for a 2030 phase-out under business-as-usual conditions or pending legislation, including the Build Back Better Framework, which lacks a formalized expedited timeline for coal retirement.
• A significant portion of the US coal fleet lacks a clear exit strategy: 127 GW of capacity have no planned retirement date, and nearly 25% of the 106 GW currently scheduled for retirement are expected to remain operational beyond 2030.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2021). US Coal Retirement Rate Needs to Increase by 66% to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_US-Coal-Retirement-Rate-Needs-to-Increase-11.2021_11.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. US Coal Retirement Rate Needs to Increase by 66% to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach. 2021. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_US-Coal-Retirement-Rate-Needs-to-Increase-11.2021_11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=US Coal Retirement Rate Needs to Increase by 66% to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach |date=November 2021 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_US-Coal-Retirement-Rate-Needs-to-Increase-11.2021_11.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2021coal, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{US Coal Retirement Rate Needs to Increase by 66\% to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM_US-Coal-Retirement-Rate-Needs-to-Increase-11.2021_11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }