Electricity

Coal Phaseouts

Coal phaseouts set a date by which a state must cease using coal for energy generation. Some states establish target dates by which utilities must phase out coal-fired electricity generation, whether through generally requiring 100% carbon-free electricity or explicitly phasing out coal, while others prohibit new or renewed permits for facilities generating coal-fired electricity.

In addition to setting deadlines, legislation often includes financial mechanisms to retire coal plants, incentives for clean energy adoption, and support for affected workers and communities. These measures reflect a comprehensive approach involving regulatory actions, financial incentives, and investments in transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

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Glossary of Terms

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

Glossary of Terms

Coal Reports

A database of reports and analysis on U.S. coal generation, demand, exports, imports, and regulations.

2024

Source:

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Five Ways to Finance Early Coal Phase Out

Explores innovative financing mechanisms, such as managed transition vehicles and coal retirement credits, to accelerate the early closure of coal power plants while ensuring a just transition for affected communities and workers.

2023

Source:

Which U.S. states are winning the race to phase out coal?

An article reviewing which states have made the most progress shifting from coal to renewable power generation, using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

2023

Source:

Energy Monitor

Pathways to Achieving a 2030 Coal Phase-Out in the United States

A policy brief that outlines the potential for a total coal phase-out in the United States by 2030, highlighting the significant emissions reductions it can achieve, the regional challenges involved, and the policy strategies necessary to achieve this ambitious goal.

2022

Source:

UMD Center for Global Sustainability

Model Rules

Glossary of Terms

LPDD Model Law: State Legislation to Decarbonize the Generation of Electricity

A model state statute that commits a state to a retail electricity supply entirely free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, including a coal phaseout, based on the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) enacted in 2019 in Washington State.

2024

Source:

LPDD

Model States

Glossary of Terms

Hawai‘i

The public utilities commission is prohibited from issuing or renewing permits for covered source facilities that burn coal for electricity generation after December 31, 2022.

2020

Establishing Policies

SB 2629 (2020)

Oregon

Requires electric utilities to phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030.

2016

Establishing Policies

SB 1547 (2016)

Washington

Requires utilities to phase out coal-fired electricity from their state portfolios by 2025.

2019

Establishing Policies

SB 5116 (2019)

Glossary of Terms

Filters

Status	State Sort descending	Region	YR Enacted
Not Enacted	Alabama Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Alaska Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Arizona Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	Arkansas Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	California Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West
Enacted	Colorado Empty column Requires 100% renewable energy by 2040, and does not include energy derived from coal in its definition of renewable electricity. Establishing Policies HB23-1272 (2023) Empty column	West	2023
Not Enacted	Connecticut Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Delaware Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Florida Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Georgia Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Enacted	Hawai‘i Empty column The public utilities commission is prohibited from issuing or renewing permits for covered source facilities that burn coal for electricity generation after December 31, 2022. Establishing Policies SB 2629 (2020) Empty column	West	2020
Not Enacted	Idaho Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Illinois Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Indiana Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Iowa Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Kansas Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Kentucky Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Louisiana Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Enacted	Maine Empty column Requires 100% renewable electricity by 2050, and does not include energy derived from coal in its definition of renewable electricity. Establishing Policies LD 1494 (2019) Empty column	Northeast	2019
Not Enacted	Maryland Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Massachusetts Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Michigan Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Enacted	Minnesota Empty column Requires 100% of electric utilities’ total retail electric sales to be generated from carbon-free technologies by 2040, effectively eliminating coal from its electricity portfolio. Establishing Policies HF 7 (2023) Empty column	Midwest	2023
Not Enacted	Mississippi Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Missouri Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Montana Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Nebraska Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Nevada Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	New Hampshire Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	New Jersey Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	New Mexico Empty column Requires 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045, effectively eliminating coal from its electricity portfolio. Establishing Policies SB 489 (2019) Empty column	Southwest	2019
Enacted	New York Empty column Requires 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, effectively eliminating coal from its electricity portfolio. Establishing Policies S6599 - Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019) Empty column	Northeast	2019
Not Enacted	North Carolina Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	North Dakota Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Ohio Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Oklahoma Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southwest
Enacted	Oregon Empty column Requires electric utilities to phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. Establishing Policies SB 1547 (2016) Empty column	West	2016
Not Enacted	Pennsylvania Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	Rhode Island Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Not Enacted	South Carolina Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	South Dakota Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Tennessee Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Texas Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	Utah Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Vermont Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	Virginia Empty column Requires 100% renewable energy by 2045 or 2050, depending on the type of electric utility, and does not include energy derived from coal in its definition of renewable electricity. Establishing Policies HB 1526 (2020) SB 851 (2020) Empty column	Southeast	2020
Enacted	Washington Empty column Requires utilities to phase out coal-fired electricity from their state portfolios by 2025. Establishing Policies SB 5116 (2019) Empty column	West	2019
Not Enacted	West Virginia Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Wisconsin Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Wyoming Empty column Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation. Empty column	West

Coal Phaseouts

Key Resources

Model Rules

Model States

Coal Phaseouts By State