Fossil Fuels & Generation
Thu, Oct 15
Molly Glick
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
·Posted in Fossil Fuels & Generation

NEWS: Planned US fossil fuel capacity has surged 45% in six months.

  • The numbers: The country’s fossil fuel pipeline has reached its highest level in a decade (contributing roughly 30% of all planned capacity). Between 2026-2030, developers plan to build 68 GW of fossil fuels—mostly natural gas, according to a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund. That’s up from 47 GW in late 2025, a sign of the quickly ballooning data center buildout.

  • Yes, but: Supply chain struggles, like gas turbine shortages, could throw a wrench in developers’ plans.

  • The impact? This could leave ratepayers more vulnerable to fuel price swings, the report noted.

  • Stayin’ alive: Meanwhile, aging coal plants are holding on for longer—plant owners sought to retire 8.5 GW last year, but less than 1 GW actually went offline (the lowest level since 2009).

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