Industry
U.S. fossil power plans surge, new capacity share expands from 5 to 30 percent
Plans to build fossil-fuel power plants in the United States, led by natural gas, are rising at the fastest pace in more than a decade, an analysis said. A report by the Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy found fossil fuels account for about 30 percent of planned new generating capacity as of the second quarter of 2026, up from 5 percent of capacity actually installed in 2024. Renewables remain cheaper on average, but policy and demand shifts are driving the change.
