Coal making a comeback as US datacenters demand power

Big Pivots: Can these coal-fired units be relied upon for power?

Again and again, the argument is made: We need coal-fired power plants to provide baseload generation because you just can’t trust renewables. They’re intermittent. Renewables require too much backup energy, making them very expensive. U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, who represents Colorado’s sprawling Third Congressional District, which includes Pueblo, worked that argument in a Sept. 3 congressional hearing in Washington D.C. “In my Colorado district, th…

Coal making a comeback as US datacenters demand power

: High gas prices and surging AI demand send operators back to the dirtiest fuel in the stack

Climate Goals Go Up in Smoke as US Datacenters Turn To Coal

US datacenters are experiencing a significant shift toward coal-powered energy due to elevated natural gas prices and rapidly growing electricity demand. From a report: According to a research note from financial services firm Jefferies, datacenter operators are racing to connect new capacity to the electrical grid, with accelerated load growth expected during the 2026-2028 period. This spike in demand is driving an unexpected resurgence in coal…