The installation of state of the art air pollution controls at existing U.S. coal-fired power plants has increased significantly over the past three decades. As of 2022, roughly 82 percent of the existing U.S. coal fleet were retrofitted with flue gas desulfurization (FGD) controls. Also known as scrubbers, these technologies are used by power plants to reduce emissions of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Meanwhile, 58 percent of coal plants had been retrofitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR). Such technologies have helped significantly reduce NOx and SO₂ emissions from electric utilities. Nevertheless, there are still numerous operational coal power plants that remain uncontrolled.
Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type
Characteristic
Coal with FGD
Coal with SCR
2022
82.4%
57.9%
2021
82.5%
57.1%
2020
82.9%
56.3%
2019
83%
55%
2018
81.6%
54.2%
2017
81.3%
52.5%
2016
77.8%
49.4%
2015
72.5%
46.5%
2014
69.6%
45.4%
2013
66.4%
43%
2012
62.6%
41%
2011
60.1%
38.8%
2010
57.5%
38%
0%20%40%60%80%100%
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Environmental Protection Agency. (August 28, 2024). Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 09, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394850/coal-fleet-with-air-pollution-controls-united-states/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type." Chart. August 28, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 09, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394850/coal-fleet-with-air-pollution-controls-united-states/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 09, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394850/coal-fleet-with-air-pollution-controls-united-states/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Share of Existing Coal Fleet with Pollution Controls in The United States from 1995 to 2022, by Type." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Aug 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394850/coal-fleet-with-air-pollution-controls-united-states/
Environmental Protection Agency, Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394850/coal-fleet-with-air-pollution-controls-united-states/ (last visited May 09, 2025)
Share of existing coal fleet with pollution controls in the United States from 1995 to 2022, by type [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, August 28, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1394850/coal-fleet-with-air-pollution-controls-united-states/
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