No one would have ever imagined it, but yes, it’s over. The United States has disconnected 12.3 gigawatts of energy capacity. Just like that. Plants that had been running for decades… And supplying a large part of the population. Some coal, some gas. Even some nuclear. All gone! And the thing is, this plant was key to keeping the country running… And now there’s no turning back. What is happening to our country? And above all… is there no turning back?
The Department of Energy and the EIA have been warning about it for a while, they want fewer emissions, less smoke, less noise. And more clean energy. The idea is not just to protect the planet, but also to save a bit because keeping those plants running costs the state too much.
Goodbye, coal, finally!
Yes, all of this comes because the EIA and the DOE want to move toward a more ecological vision, and coal isn’t exactly the best ally. We’ve been saying for years that this primary energy source is going to disappear… and it’s still here! And the thing is, we’ve been bombarded for decades with the transition to renewables but no one has done anything to gradually eliminate the use of coal… Until now. Now there really is no more, the numbers don’t add up. Environmental regulations are tightening, and climate change doesn’t give much room either.
What used to be seen as a symbol of progress is now a burden. No one wants to keep throwing money into plants that don’t perform when you see how renewable energies are evolving, so they’ve decided to say goodbye to these plants, and unfortunately it’s not just for ecology, but because they’re not profitable!
Are we running out of energy? Not at all
Let’s not exaggerate either, but removing 12.3 GW from the power system all at once will definitely be noticed, especially in places that used to rely on this power plant, but the energy doesn’t disappear, it will just start being generated from somewhere else and in another way.
Now there are many ways to produce clean energy, solar panels, wind turbines, modern batteries… Technologies that not so long ago seemed like something out of a movie. And now they’re here. States like California or Texas are already showing that it’s possible to live without coal and without missing the past!
Every shutdown opens a door
This isn’t just about shutting down power plants, it’s about making space for what’s coming. Engineering, research, investment… A new energy system that has nothing to do with burning coal. And that means building another one from scratch, quieter, cleaner, cheaper in the long term.
Some see it as a problem, but for us it’s an opportunity. We have to stop looking at the past to see that the future can start being better from the beginning!
What the U.S. does doesn’t stay in the U.S.
Even if this decision affects plants on U.S. soil, the message goes further. When a power like the United States makes such a clear decision, the rest of the world listens and has to take note.
This is not the end of anything. It’s the beginning
The shutdown of 12.3 GW marks the end of a stage, but every story that ends makes another begin, and that’s how it will be. What used to be a symbol of development is now just an old piece that was in the way, we have to make space for new generations, and the thing is, the energy of the future doesn’t smell like smoke, doesn’t make noise and doesn’t need excuses, just putting it into practice! It’s clean, efficient, and it’s already here. And the United States wants, as always, to lead the clean energy revolution!