Data center demand drives continued US coal plant retirements slowdown

Electricity-hungry data centers, particularly those powering artificial intelligence, are slowing the retirement of coal plants and extending their operating lives as utilities scramble to meet surging power demand.

First covered Jul 29, 2026 · 1:45 AM PT · 1 article

Data center demand drives continued US coal plant retirements slowdown — Image via grist.org

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3h Grist It’s official: Data centers are slowing America’s shift away from coal

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eia.gov Emissions Report (eia.gov)

energy.gov Fact Sheet Energy Department Unleashing Beautiful Clean Coa (energy.gov)

eta.lbl.gov United States Data Center Energy 2025 (eta.lbl.gov)

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eesi.org Data Center Buildout Is Hungry for Fossil Fuels | Article | EESI

commondreams.org Data center growth threatens air quality and progress toward cleaner energy grid | Common Dreams

Appeared in: 2026-07-29 (#2)

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Data center demand drives continued US coal plant retirements slowdown

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