US coal stockpiles hit highest levels since 2020
8.5.2024
Coal stockpiles at U.S. electric power plants totaled 138 million short tons at the end of May, the most since the first half of 2020 when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced electricity demand and coal consumption, according to analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
In the U.S., most power plants begin increasing their coal stocks in the spring to prepare for the higher demand in the summer and winter. Additionally, U.S. power plants typically stockpile much more coal than they consume in a month, EIA said, with more than 90% of coal-fired power plants currently having enough coal to generate electricity for 60 days or more.
