{
  "id": 15658702,
  "title": "The fossil fuel comeback is here",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/the-fossil-fuel-comeback-is-here",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-19T21:48:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Verge",
    "slug": "the-verge",
    "url": "https://www.theverge.com/science/1013954/fossil-fuel-power-infrastructure-data-centers-report"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Data centers are consuming increasing amounts of electricity, prompting the Trump administration to prioritize fossil fuels. While renewable energy growth has slowed, the US is constructing more fossil fuel infrastructure than in the past decade, according to a new report by the Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy. Electricity demand has surged faster than in over a decade due to data centers, factories, and electric vehicles joining the grid. The Trump administration has actively undermined wind and solar industries in favor of fossil fuels. If all gas projects in development are completed, they could result in more pollution and higher electricity prices for decades, the authors warn.\n\nThe U.S. power sector is undergoing a significant shift, with decisions made today determining the grid's cost, reliability, and emissions profile for decades to come. Although fossil fuels still generate 60% of electricity, renewables have surpassed coal for the first time in 2024, with wind and solar producing more electricity than coal. Solar was the fastest-growing source of new electricity generation in 2024, accounting for 81% of added capacity. Globally, solar has become the cheapest power source in many regions.\n\nThe Trump administration's \"drill, baby, drill\" plan for fossil fuels has led to a surge in new fossil fuel infrastructure plans, rising from 5% of new capacity in 2024 to 30% by mid-2026. Fossil fuel infrastructure could make up 70% of the development pipeline by the end of the decade, with 68 gigawatts of planned fossil capacity by 2030, a 45% increase from six months ago. Despite this, renewable energy projects are being canceled more rapidly than fossil fuels, at 4.9% compared to 2.9%.\n\nNew utility-scale solar and wind farms are more cost-effective, with an average cost of $68 to $69 per megawatt-hour, compared to $90 per megawatt-hour for new combined-cycle natural gas plants. However, fossil fuels are subject to price volatility, particularly since the U.S. initiated the war with Iran. Additionally, fossil fuel power plants emit air pollutants and greenhouse gases, resulting in higher health costs. Overall, electricity bills have increased nationwide as utilities upgrade power grids and build new energy infrastructure to meet rising demand.",
  "summary": "The US is building more fossil fuel infrastructure than it has in a decade while renewable energy growth slows down, a new report shows. Electricity demand is also climbing faster than it has in more than a decade with more data centers, factories, and electric vehicles plugging into the grid. Despite those growing demands, the […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Fossil fuel infrastructure plans surge from 5% to 30% of new capacity",
    "Renewable energy projects canceled more rapidly than fossil fuels",
    "Fossil fuel power plants emit pollutants and greenhouse gases"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}