In 2025, the United States is facing a rise in pollution from power plants because they are using more coal to make electricity. Hot summer weather has increased the need for air conditioning, leading to this change.
Let’s talk more about why coal use is growing, how it harms the environment, the challenges of switching to clean energy, and how the U.S. plans to build a cleaner future with renewable power sources.
Why Coal Use Is Growing
In 2025, U.S. power plants are burning more coal, causing a 5% increase in pollution from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. From January to May, emissions reached about 640 million metric tons, the highest in three years, according to Ember, an energy research group.
Coal use rose by 20% compared to 2024 because natural gas became expensive. Natural gas cost $3.53 per million British thermal units in 2025, up 60% from $2.15 in 2024, making coal, at $76 per ton, a cheaper option.
Power companies in areas like the Southwest Power Pool and PJM system used 32% and 27% more coal to save money. Hot summer days meant more people used air conditioners, increasing electricity demand.
This led to more coal being burned, which creates more pollution than other fuels. People are worried, because this trend makes it harder to keep the air clean and fight climate change. Coal’s low cost is driving its use, but it comes with big environmental problems.
Coal itself is one of the dirtiest fuels because it releases a lot of carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat and causes climate change. In 2025, coal makes up about 15% of U.S. electricity but produces 77% more carbon dioxide per unit than natural gas.
In states like Texas, coal plants emitted nearly 60 million metric tons of pollution in 2023, harming air quality. This pollution affects people’s health, especially kids and older adults who may have trouble breathing.
Coal also releases sulfur dioxide and tiny particles that can make asthma worse or cause other health issues. Hot weather in 2025 has increased air conditioner use, making coal plants work harder and adding more pollution.
Challenges in Switching to Clean Energy
The U.S. wants to use more clean energy, like solar and wind power, but it’s not easy. From 2015 to 2024, clean energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear, grew by 35%. Solar power increased eight times, and wind power doubled.
However, coal is still a big part of electricity in states like West Virginia, where it makes up over 85%, and Wyoming, where it accounts for about 70%. These states rely on coal because it’s cheaper to run old plants.
Building new solar and wind farms costs a lot of money. These farms need batteries to store power for when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, and batteries are expensive. The U.S. also needs more power lines to carry clean energy to cities.
While currently no new coal plants are being built, but old ones are still used because they cost less than new gas or renewable plants. These challenges slow down the shift to cleaner energy sources.
Plans for a Cleaner Energy Future
The U.S. is working to reduce pollution by using more clean energy. In 2024, total power emissions from fossil fuels were only 0.5% higher than in 2023, reaching 1.64 billion tons, even with record-high electricity use.
This shows clean energy is helping meet demand. By 2030, the U.S. plans to close some coal plants and add more gas, solar, and wind power. This could lower emissions and make the air cleaner for everyone, especially in cities with poor air quality.
Hot summers may keep coal use high because air conditioners need lots of electricity. If natural gas prices stay high, coal could be used more, increasing pollution. The government is helping with tax credits to build solar and wind farms.
For example, Texas shows wind and solar can provide steady power, despite claims they make the grid unreliable. California leads with solar and wind making nearly 30% of its power in 2024, setting an example for other states.
The U.S. is part of the Paris Agreement, a global plan to limit warming. In 2023, renewable energy made up about 21% of U.S. electricity, and experts hope this reaches 35% by 2030.
The government is investing in better power lines and batteries to make clean energy reliable. Schools can teach kids to save energy, like turning off lights or using fans instead of air conditioners. Communities can help by recycling and using less electricity to reduce pollution.
New Technologies
The U.S. is also exploring new technologies, like carbon capture, to trap coal plant emissions, though it’s not widely used yet. Learning from countries like Germany, which gets over 50% of its power from renewables, can help.
Germany uses wind and solar farms with advanced batteries to store power. The U.S. is also supporting electric vehicles, which use clean energy and reduce pollution from cars. By 2024, over 1.2 million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S., showing progress.
States like New York are setting goals to get 70% of electricity from renewables by 2030. Programs like the Inflation Reduction Act provide money to build clean energy projects. Kids can help by learning about energy saving, like using energy-efficient light bulbs.
Even though it is still seem like far away from the direction of what we see, we can build a future where clean energy powers most homes and schools to keep the air healthy for everyone. We just need to want it, and do what need to do.
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