EIA report finds nearly all power plants retired since 2008 were powered by fossil fuels

The use of fossil fuels continues its decline, according to a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which found that almost all utility-scale power plants retired in-country since 2008 were fossil fuel plants.

The majority of these, by far, were coal and natural gas operations, which accounted for 47 percent and 26 percent of closures, respectively. This trend should continue at least through 2020, as planned retirements are likewise mostly coal plants and natural gas steam turbines. Of course, it’s not all increased “green” prevalence driving these retirements — the age of the plants factored in heavily, new and improved technologies, as well as new federal or state policies.

The Eastern region of the United States — comprised of the area east of the Rocky Mountains and some parts of Texas — saw the largest share of capacity retirements in the past decade, largely because it also has the most generating capacity in the nation. In all, 10 percent of its capacity retired in the last 10 years, including 19 percent of their coal capacity. The Western region has the next largest capacity but saw 23 percent of its nuclear capacity retire in 2013 and about 46 percent of its natural gas steam capacity over the last 10 years.

Texas, the smallest of the nation’s three generating capacity regions, nevertheless experienced large changes as well. Since 2008, 35 percent of its natural gas steam turbines retired, as well as 66 percent of its petroleum capacity, and is expected to have massive — 5,583 MW — coal retirements this year.