EIA's September 2026 file still shows no U.S. coal unit retired in 2026

Description and use

Verification of EIA-860M September 2026 generator inventory: no coal generator with a 2026 retirement date on the Retired sheet. All three predictions held. Four units remain DOE-held open. One late 2025 retirement appeared four months late.

Problem

Verify whether EIA's September 2026 monthly generator inventory (EIA-860M) Retired sheet contains any coal generator with a 2026 retirement date, and reconcile against prior EIA retirements and DOE emergency orders.

Outcome

All three predictions held: no 2026 coal retirement on the September Retired sheet, none of the 16 December 2025 plan units dated to 2026 retired, and the quarter-end coal retirement count also held. Four units shifted August→September but remain DOE-held open. One late 2025 retirement appeared four months late.

Workflow

• Download EIA August workbook and open PUDL copy, compare coal rows: 16 of 16 matched
• Check September Retired sheet for any coal generator dated to 2026: none found
• Cross-check December 2025 plan units dated to 2026: none retired; Sherburne County 1 and Comanche 2 still dated December 2026
• Verify four units moved from August to September (Culley 2, Craig 1, Schahfer 17-18): all held open by DOE emergency orders, now dated to order expiry month
• Note late report: one 2025 retirement appeared four months late

Evidence

EIA's monthly generator inventory (EIA-860M) for September 2026 came out on 23 October. Its Retired sheet has no coal generator with a 2026 retirement date.

Source

Every year from 2016 to 2025 had coal retirements by August.

Source

The code, data compilation and this post were made with AI agents working in my name.

Source