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The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved Southwestern Public Service’s plan to close the Tolk coal plant in early 2029 and replace it with projects including 1,100 megawatts of wind power, 322 megawatts of battery storage and 189 megawatts of solar power. Sierra Club says the decision could conserve substantial amounts of Ogallala Basin groundwater and reduce the plant’s emissions, while approval of two peaking gas plants remains in place with cost restrictions.
Ameren Missouri has submitted a long-term power plan proposing the addition of 5,400 megawatts of gas capacity by 2032, while reducing investments in wind and solar power and delaying coal plant closures. Sierra Club believes the plan could increase pollution, costs, and climate risks associated with growing demand from data centers.
Sierra Club gave NV Energy subsidiary Sierra Pacific Power a D, its worst result since the organization began its assessment, after the company increased its plans to add more than 2.7 gigawatts of gas capacity by 2035 amid expected growth in demand from artificial intelligence data centers. The report warns that the expansion could undermine renewable energy goals and shift infrastructure costs to other consumers.
A report prepared by Sierra Club and Breach Collective says that more than $60 million in NW Natural customer funds was directed to out-of-state biogas projects without a meaningful reduction in emissions, while pollution risks and costs to consumers continue.
A Sierra Club report gave Mississippi Power a score of 44 out of 100 for its plan to add 548 megawatts of gas capacity and no renewable capacity, despite retiring its coal fleet. The 76 U.S. utilities assessed recorded a national average of just 7 points, the lowest in the report’s history.
A report prepared by Sierra Club and Synapse Energy Economics warned that Arizona Public Service’s expansion of gas plants could raise customers’ bills and increase their exposure to fuel-price volatility. This comes as the company seeks a 14% rate increase and proposes a mechanism allowing annual increases with less oversight and public participation.
A U.S. court canceled an emergency order issued by the Department of Energy under the Donald Trump administration that had postponed the closure of the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan. The ruling puts the plant back on track for retirement, while the Sierra Club challenges similar orders that kept other plants operating.
Three environmental organizations have joined a lawsuit accusing the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power of failing to comply with California environmental law when approving the conversion of the Scattergood gas plant to burn a blend of hydrogen and methane. The move follows the Los Angeles City Council’s rejection of an appeal against project approval on August 4, 2026, paving the way for litigation proceedings to resume in September.