17 hours ago
- Coal was the dominant fuel for power generation historically, powering steam engines and early electricity grids.
- Coal's share of US electricity generation declined from 57% in the mid-1980s to 16% in 2020 due to regulatory and market pressures.
- Over 140 coal plants have been converted to burn natural gas since 2008, while more than 230 have been shut down.
- Key drivers of coal-to-gas conversion were stricter EPA emissions regulations (especially MATS) and cheap natural gas from the shale boom.
- Conversion methods vary: simple boiler retrofitting, replacing boilers, adding gas turbines for combined-cycle plants, or full plant replacement.
- Future coal-to-gas conversions are unlikely due to fewer remaining coal plants, economic shifts from battery storage, and policy changes.
- Coal still has advantages like on-site storage and geopolitical independence, but its decline appears long-term.