Electricity generators in the United States are set to retire 12.3 gigawatts(GW)of capacity in 2025,a 65%rise from 2024,based on the latest U.S.Energy Information Administration(EIA)inventory,as reported by Trend.Coal-fired plants will make up 66%of these retirements,with natural gas at 21%,followed by petroleum-fired units.
Coal retirements are projected to reach 8.1 GW,accounting for 4.7%of the U.S.coal fleet.The largest closure involves the 1,800-megawatt(MW)Intermountain Power Project in Utah,where a new 840-MW natural gas facility will begin operations.Other significant coal retirements include Michigan’s J H Campbell at 1,331 MW and Maryland’s Brandon Shores at 1,273 MW.
Natural gas retirements will total 2.6 GW,primarily impacting older,less efficient simple-cycle plants.Key closures include Texas’V H Braunig Units 1–3 with 859 MW and Pennsylvania’s Eddystone Units 3–4 with 760 MW.In Tennessee,16 turbines at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s(TVA)Johnsonville station will be decommissioned and replaced with more efficient units.
Petroleum-fired capacity retirements will amount to 1.6 GW.Notable closures include Maryland’s Herbert A Wagner plant and Tennessee’s Allen power plant.These changes highlight ongoing adjustments in the U.S.energy sector as it moves toward more efficient and cleaner energy options.
The shift away from coal,natural gas,and petroleum-fired plants reflects a broader trend in the industry.For instance,the Intermountain Power Project’s transition to natural gas demonstrates efforts to modernize infrastructure while maintaining reliable energy supply.Similarly,the replacement of older turbines at Johnsonville with advanced units aims to enhance operational efficiency.
Data from the EIA underscores the scale of these retirements,with coal leading the reductions,followed by natural gas and petroleum.The 12.3 GW retirement figure for 2025 marks a significant increase from the previous year,signaling an accelerated pace in phasing out certain types of power generation.The process remains driven by the need for updated systems and alignment with evolving energy demands.
The largest single retirement,Utah’s Intermountain Power Project,involves replacing 1,800 MW of coal capacity with an 840-MW natural gas plant,reducing overall output but improving efficiency.In Michigan,the J H Campbell closure will retire 1,331 MW,while Maryland’s Brandon Shores will remove 1,273 MW from the grid.These figures align with the EIA’s reported totals and reflect careful planning by energy providers.
Natural gas closures,such as those at V H Braunig and Eddystone,target aging infrastructure,while Tennessee’s Johnsonville upgrade emphasizes modernization.Petroleum retirements,though smaller in scale,include key facilities like Herbert A Wagner and Allen,further illustrating the sector’s evolving priorities.These retirements collectively point to a strategic shift in the U.S.energy framework.
