These States are Turning Back to Coal Amid the Energy Squeeze

Ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran has effectively cut off commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for approximately 20% of global oil and liquified natural gas. More than six months have passed since the war began, and with no end in sight, major markets around the world are scrambling to backstop a volatile energy sector—and many are turning to coal.

Rising 0.3%, global coal demand hit an all-time high of 8.84 billion metric tons in 2025. While demand for coal was previously forecast to decline in 2026, the crisis in the Persian Gulf has upended initial projections. Coal demand is now expected to increase 1.2%, reaching a new record high of 8.94 billion metric tons by year’s end. Increased reliance on coal in 2026 will be driven largely by China and India, the two largest markets for coal in the world. 

The emerging global trend represents a regression in the fight against climate change. Generating about 36% more carbon emissions than petroleum, and nearly twice as much as natural gas, coal is by far the heaviest polluting fossil fuel. Encouragingly, however, the United States—the global leader in natural gas production—is projected to see a 7% decline in coal consumption in 2026. In the first six months of the year, domestic coal use is already down more than 11% compared to the first half of 2025. Still, at the state level, the transition toward cleaner energy sources is far from uniform—and in some parts of the country, coal use has already climbed meaningfully this year. 

Using data from the Energy Information Administration, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states that are turning back to coal amid the global energy squeeze. We ranked all 50 states on the change in net electricity production from coal-fired power plants between the first half of 2025 and the first half of 2026. Only states where coal-derived energy is up year-over-year rank on this list. All supplemental data in this story is also from the EIA. 

10. West Virginia

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +1.2% (+262,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 22.7 million megawatt hours (86.8% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 22.4 million megawatt hours (87.6% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 43.5 million metric tons (60.1% of statewide energy emissions)

9. Georgia

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +4.5% (+436,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 10.1 million megawatt hours (14.2% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 9.7 million megawatt hours (13.8% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 18.3 million metric tons (14.4% of statewide energy emissions)

8. North Carolina

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +5.9% (+515,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 9.3 million megawatt hours (13.7% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 8.8 million megawatt hours (13.2% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 17.5 million metric tons (14.7% of statewide energy emissions)

7. North Dakota

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +8.9% (+930,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 11.3 million megawatt hours (50.2% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 10.4 million megawatt hours (49.4% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 32.8 million metric tons (59.4% of statewide energy emissions)

6. Nebraska

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +10.8% (+822,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 8.4 million megawatt hours (43.0% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 7.6 million megawatt hours (40.8% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 17.0 million metric tons (39.1% of statewide energy emissions)

5. Virginia

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +15.6% (+197,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 1.5 million megawatt hours (2.8% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 1.3 million megawatt hours (2.4% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 4.9 million metric tons (4.9% of statewide energy emissions)

4. Iowa

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +16.6% (+1.2 million megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 8.5 million megawatt hours (22.4% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 7.3 million megawatt hours (19.8% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 17.3 million metric tons (26.5% of statewide energy emissions)

3. Florida

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +36.4% (+1.6 million megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 6.0 million megawatt hours (4.6% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 4.4 million megawatt hours (3.4% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 8.7 million metric tons (3.8% of statewide energy emissions)

2. New Mexico

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +39.4% (+1.2 million megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 4.4 million megawatt hours (18.8% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 3.1 million megawatt hours (16.8% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 8.2 million metric tons (19.7% of statewide energy emissions)

1. Maryland

Increase in net electricity production from coal fired plants, year-over-year: +52.5% (+628,000 megawatt hours)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2026: 1.8 million megawatt hours (9.3% of power grid)

Net electricity production from coal fired plants, January-June 2025: 1.2 million megawatt hours (6.6% of power grid)

Annual carbon emissions from coal: 3.5 million metric tons (7.3% of statewide energy emissions)