• Sections ScienceClimate modellingExtreme weatherHealth and SecurityIceIPCCNatureOceansPeopleTemperature Climate modelling Extreme weather Health and Security Ice IPCC Nature Oceans People Temperature EnergyChina energyCoalEmissionsNuclearOil and gasOther technologiesRenewablesTechnology China energy Coal Emissions Nuclear Oil and gas Other technologies Renewables Technology PolicyChina PolicyEU policyInternational policyOther national policyRest of world policyUK policyUN climate talksUS Policy China Policy EU policy International policy Other national policy Rest of world policy UK policy UN climate talks US Policy In FocusCountry profilesDeBriefedExplainersFactchecksFeaturesGuest postsInfographicsInterviewsMedia analysisState of the climateTranslationsWebinars Country profiles DeBriefed Explainers Factchecks Features Guest posts Infographics Interviews Media analysis State of the climate Translations Webinars Daily Brief MENU About us China Briefing Comments Policy Contact Us Cookies Policy Cropped Daily Briefing DeBriefed EnergyCoalEmissionsGlobal emissionsRest of world emissionsUK emissionsEU emissionsNuclearOil and gasRenewablesTechnologyChina energy Coal EmissionsGlobal emissionsRest of world emissionsUK emissions Global emissions Rest of world emissions UK emissions EU emissions Nuclear Oil and gas Renewables Technology China energy Global South Climate Database Home In focusCountry profilesExplainersFactchecksFeaturesGuest postsInfographicsInterviewsMedia analysisState of the climateTranslationsWebinars Country profiles Explainers Factchecks Features Guest posts Infographics Interviews Media analysis State of the climate Translations Webinars NatureFood and farmingNature policyCOP15 MontrealCOP16 CaliPlants and forestsWildlife Food and farming Nature policyCOP15 MontrealCOP16 Cali COP15 Montreal COP16 Cali Plants and forests Wildlife Newsletters Newsletters PolicyChina PolicyEU policyInternational policyRest of world policyUK policyUN climate talksCOP21 Pari

Article Summaries:

  • Analysis: Trump’s presidency saw the steepest drop in U.S. coal‑fired power capacity of any recent president, with a 57‑GW decline versus 48 GW under Obama and 41 GW under Biden. Despite executive orders and subsidies aimed at keeping coal plants operational, market forces-cheaper gas, renewables, and aging infrastructure-driven closures outpaced any policy support. The administration’s push to repeal the 2009 “endangerment” finding and invoke emergency legislation to keep plants open contrasts sharply with the actual trend. By 2024, wind and solar surpassed coal in generation, and only a small fraction of U.S. coal capacity remains under 20 years old.

Sources: