Coal-fired generation rose to meet demand during Winter Storm Fern

In-brief analysis

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

In the week ending January 25, 2026, as Winter Storm Fern affected significant portions of the country, coal-fired electricity generation in the Lower 48 states increased 31% from the previous week. The increase contrasts with coal use in the earlier part of January, which had milder weather and consequently lower coal-fired generation compared with the same period in 2025.

During the week of Winter Storm Fern, natural gas generation in the Lower 48 states increased 14% from the previous week while generation from solar, wind, and hydropower declined. Nuclear generation was nearly unchanged.

Coal accounted for 21% of all electricity generation in the Lower 48 states over the same period, up from 17% the previous week. Coal was the second-largest source of energy used for electricity, following natural gas, which contributed 38%. Nuclear was third at 18%.

Grid operators can call upon the coal fleet to increase electricity generation in extreme weather events and other times when demand surges or output falls from other generation sources, a pattern also evident in severe cold snaps in February 2021 and January 2025.

Principal contributors: Chris Peterson, Jonathan Church

Tags: coal, electricity, generation, weather