A Sierra Club report graded 76 major U.S. utilities an F, with a group score of 7/100 on coal, gas and clean-energy plans. It says 41% have pulled back on climate goals in two years; utilities now project 25% of coal capacity will close by decade’s end, down from 35% in 2023.
The analysis reviewed plans as of mid-2026 from 50 parent companies and 76 operating utilities, which collectively own half of the nation’s remaining coal and gas generation. The Sierra Club says planned gas additions would equal roughly one-quarter of typical U.S. electricity demand, with much of the growth tied to expected AI data-center demand. The utilities’ combined score fell 11 points from 2021.
The Sierra Club says delayed planning wasted opportunities to use clean-energy tax credits and contributed to timing and cost pressures utilities now cite to justify fossil-fuel reliance. The article says keeping coal plants open and adding gas could leave customers paying fuel and maintenance costs for years.
