evidence: The U.S. is on track to close half of its coal-fired generation capacity by 2026, just 15 years after it reached its peak in 2011. [...] Coal use by U.S. electric-power producers is falling quickly again after a short-lived post-pandemic recovery, possibly falling to only 400 million tons in 2023—less than half of what was used just 10 years ago. [...] U.S. utilities, all of which are engaged in long-term generation planning and capital spending budgets, have been finalizing their energy portfolio decisions. Most plans now include deep cuts or a complete phaseout in coal use (if they still have any), big buildouts of wind, solar, and battery storage, and a reliance on existing gas generation plants.