How the U.S. power fleet is changing
The United States has roughly 1,400 gigawatts of generating capacity spread across more than 14,000 power plants. This page is built from the EIA’s monthly generator inventory (Form EIA-860M), which lists every generator of one megawatt or more with its technology, size, location and the date it entered service.
What is being built
Solar, batteries and wind now make up the great majority of new capacity. Solar farms are the fastest to permit and build, and batteries have grown from almost nothing to tens of gigawatts a year, mostly in Texas and California, where they store midday solar power for the evening peak. New natural gas plants are still being built, typically combustion turbines that run when demand spikes.
What is being retired
Coal has been the biggest source of retirements for over a decade, as aging plants lost out to cheaper gas and renewables. Owners report planned retirement dates to the EIA, but those plans change: with electricity demand rising again from data centres and manufacturing, several utilities have delayed coal closures.
Capacity versus generation
Capacity is the maximum a plant can produce; generation is what it actually produces. A nuclear reactor runs at over 90% of its capacity through the year, a gas combined-cycle plant around 55%, a wind farm about 35% and a solar farm about 25%. So a gigawatt of solar supplies far less electricity over a year than a gigawatt of nuclear — which is why the generation mix on the power grid page looks different from the capacity mix here.
Frequently asked questions
How many power plants are there in the United States?
More than 14,000 power plants with generators of one megawatt or more, totalling roughly 1,400 gigawatts of operating capacity. The exact count and capacity on this page update monthly from the EIA's generator inventory.
What is the largest source of U.S. generating capacity?
Natural gas, with about 40% of operating capacity. Coal, solar and wind each hold a little over a tenth, followed by nuclear, hydroelectric power and batteries.
How much new power capacity is built each year?
In recent years about 50 gigawatts a year, most of it solar and battery storage, followed by wind and natural gas. This page shows additions and retirements by technology for each year since 2013.
Are coal plants still being retired?
Yes. Coal has been the largest source of retirements for more than a decade, and owners have told the EIA they plan to retire tens of gigawatts more over the next five years, although several closures have been postponed as electricity demand rises.
Where does this power plant data come from?
From the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (Form EIA-860M), which lists every U.S. generator of one megawatt or more with its technology, capacity, location and operating dates.