US — The Verge
The fossil fuel comeback is here
Policy1 min read
A new report says the US is building more fossil fuel power plants than it has in a decade. At the same time, growth in wind and solar power is slowing.
Fossil fuels are coming back
The US is planning and building more fossil fuel power projects than it has in ten years. Demand for electricity is rising fast, because of new data centers, factories, and electric cars. The Trump administration has also tried to slow down wind and solar projects and support fossil fuels instead.
Key numbers
- The US still makes about 60 percent of its electricity from fossil fuels.
- In 2024, wind and solar together made more electricity than coal for the first time.
- Plans for new fossil fuel projects rose from 5 percent of new capacity in 2024 to 30 percent by the second quarter of 2026.
- Planned fossil capacity could reach 68 gigawatts by 2030, a 45 percent jump from plans six months earlier.
- Renewable projects are being canceled at 4.9 percent, compared with 2.9 percent for fossil fuel projects.
Why the shift is happening
Solar is now the fastest-growing source of new electricity in the US, and it is the cheapest power source in most of the world. Still, the government has used stop work orders, blocked permits, and removed tax breaks for wind and solar. Many recent solar and wind projects were started with incentives from the Biden era.
Why it matters
The authors warn that new gas plants could add pollution and raise electricity prices for decades. Gas and coal plants also release air pollution and greenhouse gases that heat the planet, which adds health costs. Fuel prices can also jump up and down more, especially since the US started a war with Iran.
What to watch
- Whether the planned gas projects are actually built.
- Whether AI data center power forecasts turn out to be too high.
- Whether wind and solar cancellations keep rising.
- How electricity bills change as utilities upgrade grids.