Our Campaign
Our Campaign
Across America, the Beyond Coal campaign is replacing coal and gas with clean energy. We’re mobilizing grassroots activists to advocate for meaningful energy changes in their communities, including retiring coal plants, preventing new fossil fuel plants from being built, and working to stop the expansion of fracked gas.
What We Are Doing
Rally at the Idaho State Capitol to celebrate historic funding for Idaho clean energy initiatives.
We engage over a million members and supporters to intervene in public utility dockets, in litigation, and before state and federal agencies to advocate for clean energy. We build broad, inclusive coalitions that bring together local consumer advocates, labor organizations, large energy consumer groups, clean energy advocates, and environmental justice leaders. By mobilizing our members, deepening grassroots leadership, and winning local victories, we are building power for long-term, durable climate and justice wins.
We’ve helped achieve retirement commitments for over 70 percent of coal plants since 2010, including 24 of the 25 plants identified by the NAACP as the most harmful to environmental justice communities. See where coal plants are still impacting your community.
Since 2020, our efforts to halt the construction of new gas plants have led to the defeat of more than 75 GW of new gas capacity. See where new gas plants, pipelines and export terminals are being planned in your community." to "Since 2020, our efforts to halt the construction of new gas plants have led to the defeat of more than 90 GW of new gas capacity. See where new gas plants are being planned in your community.
Coal Plant Retirements in Progress




Why It Matters
The United States was the world's largest source of carbon emissions for more than a century. Although our emissions from electricity have dropped significantly, they still eclipse the entire emissions from almost every other country on earth. Any path to address climate change needs to include an electric grid free of fossil fuels.
With or without subsidies, solar and wind are the most cost-effective form of energy today. More than ever, utilities that are still reliant on fossil fuels like coal and gas will drive up utility bills for their customers. But these utilities don’t make the switch to clean energy based on economics alone - citizen advocacy is one of the most impactful ways to hold them accountable!
Defeated or Delayed Gas Infrastructure
Victory!
Sierra Club has worked to retire coal plants all over the country and move our energy systems towards more renewable sources. To date, nearly two-thirds of plants online in 2009 have retired or committed to retiring. Of the 25 plants the NAACP identified as being most harmful to black and brown communities, 24 have retired or announced their retirement before 2030. Studies suggest the pollution reduction from these closed plants has prevented over 55,000 premature deaths, 85,000 heart attacks, and 900,000 asthma attacks.
American storytellers talk about climate change, clean energy, and fighting dirty coal.
The Land I Trust: Stories From Activists
The Land I Trust is an audio series by the Sierra Club that brings powerful stories about special places into your home. We travel throughout the United States, to discuss clean energy solutions and moving beyond coal with locals.
Listen