Clean Energy Journey

America’s Coal Plants Get a Second Life as Clean Energy Hubs

With the help of existing infrastructure, coal communities can lead in the shift to renewable energy

This month, Britain made history by closing the doors on its last coal-fired power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, ending over 140 years of coal-based electricity. As the first country to embrace coal power, Britain has now become a global leader in phasing it out entirely. As reported by the Washington Post, this shift was possible thanks to government policies that encouraged renewables like wind and solar, as well as taxes on carbon emissions, which disincentivized coal.

However, the shift away from coal didn’t happen overnight. Britain has been gradually transitioning to cleaner energy since it discovered natural gas in the North Sea during the 1960s. This discovery offered a cheaper and less polluting option. As reported by NPR, imposing taxes on coal and setting ambitious emissions targets paired with investments in offshore wind farms and other renewables, made it possible for the country to reduce its coal use while keeping the lights on. These actions also made it tougher for coal plants to stay profitable. 

While Britain is making strides, the U.S. still operates around 200 coal plants, underscoring a different approach to the energy transition. According to NPR, American policy on coal has been less consistent, with frequent shifts depending on political leadership. Though the U.S. has closed many coal plants over the last decade, it’s a much larger country with more coal dependency, which makes the phase-out more challenging.

Repurposing American Coal Plants for Solar, Wind, and Nuclear Power

As the U.S. faces the challenge of reducing its reliance on coal, innovative approaches are emerging that could repurpose existing coal plant sites to support renewable energy and even nuclear power. Projects like the Sherco plant in Minnesota are demonstrating how these sites can serve as valuable assets for a cleaner energy future. 

By transforming old coal plant infrastructure for use with solar, wind, and nuclear energy, the U.S. can make significant strides in its energy transition while preserving jobs and supporting local economies.

How Coal Plant Infrastructure is Enabling Solar and Wind Growth

Sherco, Minnesota’s largest coal-fired power plant, will retire in the coming years but not without leaving a positive legacy. By using the plant’s existing interconnection system, a massive solar project is connecting directly to the grid without the usual red tape. This approach cuts years off the process, making it easier to bring new renewable energy online. Experts like Ryan Long from Xcel Energy say reusing old coal infrastructure is key to accelerating clean energy deployment, allowing renewables to come online faster by bypassing lengthy permitting and construction timelines.

This strategy also highlights the potential for growth in rural and former coal-dependent areas, which can benefit economically from renewable energy investments. For communities that have long depended on coal, the shift to solar or wind is helping maintain jobs and support local businesses. Long says Sherco’s workers will transition into roles within Xcel Energy’s renewable projects, helping the local economy stay robust and keeping people employed even as the coal plant shuts down.

Exploring Nuclear as a Complement to Solar and Wind

While solar and wind are crucial to the U.S. clean energy strategy, nuclear energy is also poised to play a significant role. A recent Department of Energy (DOE) report found that over 300 existing and retired coal sites could support nuclear power plants, potentially adding 250 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity. That’s enough to power 187.5 million average American homes, which is equivalent to powering every household in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, and San Jose combined—more than ten times over. 

Nuclear energy offers a steady source of low-carbon power, which is essential as energy demands grow due to electric vehicles and the electrification of homes and businesses, as well as increasingly energy-hungry data centers that are powering cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Coal-to-nuclear conversions can also provide economic stability. Converting coal plants to nuclear not only retains jobs but can also create hundreds of new positions in high-paying fields like nuclear engineering and plant operations. Additionally, these projects can inject millions of dollars into local economies, improving infrastructure, public services, and schools through increased tax revenue. 

Following Britain’s Lead: Repurposing Coal Plants Could Help Expand U.S. Clean Energy

Reusing coal plant infrastructure for solar, wind, and nuclear power offers a unique solution to expand energy capacity and meet rising U.S. energy demands. By leveraging existing assets, these conversions are faster and more cost-effective than building new infrastructure from scratch. As noted by senior scientist Umed Paliwal from UC Berkeley, this approach could nearly double the nation’s energy capacity by tapping into ready-made sites that are already connected to the grid.

As the U.S. strives to meet its clean energy targets, converting coal plants to renewable and nuclear facilities provides a practical solution to support energy demands and maintain local jobs. This approach allows the U.S. to adapt existing infrastructure rather than starting from scratch, potentially speeding up the transition to cleaner energy sources. Following Britain’s example, where the phase-out of coal-fired electricity has played a major role in reducing emissions, the U.S. could similarly leverage its coal plants to advance a more sustainable energy future.