According to the Sustainable Energy in America report , US coal consumption dropped to its lowest levels in 2015 since EIA records began in 1949 , accounting for 34 % of the country 's electricity generation . In 2014 , coal accounted for 39 % of US electricity , showing a drop in usage of 36 % by the end of 2015 . As a result , last year 's greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector fell 18 % below 2005 levels . The report highlights the US ' positive progress to achieve its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 32 % by 2030 . Colleen Regan , co - author of the report and a power analyst for the New Energy Finance explained that she expected to see more coal - fired power stations shut down this year , however to declare the death of coal in the US may be premature .
According to the Sustainable Energy in America report, US coal consumption fell to its lowest levels in 2015 since EIA records began in 1949, accounting for 34% of the country's electricity generation. In 2014, coal accounted for 39% of US electricity, showing a drop in usage of 5% by the end of 2015. As a result, last year's greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector fell 18% below 2005 levels. The report highlights the US' positive progress to achieve its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 32% by 2030. Colleen Regan, co-author of the report and a power analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance explained that she expected to see more coal-fired power stations closed down this year, however to declare the death of coal in the US may be premature.