INDIANA ELECTRICITY FUEL MIX

(2015-2024)

Coal remains a critical and reliable foundation of Indiana’s electricity system, supplying nearly 40% of power in 2024. Even after a decade of change, coal remains Indiana’s largest source of electricity.

Why Coal Matters for Indiana?

  • Reliable, 24/7 Power: Provides consistent, on-demand electricity regardless of weather or time of day
  • Grid Stability When It Matters Most: Supports system reliability during peak demand and extreme conditions
  • Energy Security & In-State Production: Coal is stockpiled on-site, allowing Indiana to generate power from fuel it already has, reducing dependence on imported, just-in-time energy sources
  • Supports Jobs & Affordable Energy: Sustains local employment and helps keep electricity costs stable for homes and industry

Source: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, 2025 Annual Report

INDIANA COAL PRODUCTION

Indiana holds 1.4% of the nation’s economically recoverable coal reserves and ranks as the eighth-largest coal-producing state. Its mines produce nearly 24 million tons of coal, about 4% of total U.S. production, and employ more than 2,000 Hoosier miners. All of the state’s coal mining occurs in southwestern Indiana within the coal-rich Illinois Basin.

Indiana uses about four-fifths of its mined coal in-state and ships most of the rest to a dozen other states by rail, barge, and truck. In 2024, Indiana was the nation’s second- largest coal consumer, after Texas. Indiana consumed about 26 million tons of coal, and most of it was used for electric power generation.

As of 2026, Indiana still relies on a fleet of roughly 11 coal-fired power plants that together provide about 13.4 gigawatts of dependable generating capacity. This substantial coal capacity is on the same scale as the state’s total electricity demand, underscoring coal’s continued role as a reliable backbone of Indiana’s power grid and its ability to support millions of homes, businesses, and industries across the state.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Last updated in Nov. 2025)