Two U.S. power markets where coal still beats gas

The EIA highlights two U.S. regions – SPP and MISO – that still generate more electricity from coal than natural gas in some months, especially in winter.

The pattern reflects cold-season gas constraints (e.g., freeze-offs) and legacy coal fleets; EIA’s STEO expects coal to exceed gas in Dec 2025–Feb 2026 in both markets, even as gas keeps gaining share longer term with newer combined-cycle capacity and coal retirements.

What this might mean:

• In SPP and MISO, coal can still overtake gas in winter months, when cold snaps strain gas supply and push coal units up the dispatch stack.
• The flip is seasonal, not structural: over the long run, gas keeps gaining as newer combined-cycle plants come online and older coal units retire.
• Nationally, the U.S. hasn’t generated more power from coal than gas since early 2018; many regions (e.g., California, Florida, New England, New York) never see coal top gas anymore.
• Bottom line: watch winter conditions and gas availability—they’re the swing factors behind those brief coal > gas months in the Midwest/Plains.

Source and full article: EIA