S&P Global ($):

U.S. generating capacity declined by a net 1,124 MW in September, as 1,185 MW of new operating capacity went online and 2,309 MW of capacity was permanently retired, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.

A total of 15 generation units were completed, while seven units were retired. Wind accounted for 84.8%, or 1,005 MW, of completed capacity, while coal made up 64.1%, or 1,480 MW, of retired capacity.

Nine new power plant units with a total capacity of 2,200 MW were proposed, of which wind accounted for 54.6%.

The 350-MW Foard City Wind Project in Foard County, Texas, was the largest single project added to the grid in September.

The 276-MW Solomon Forks Wind Facility (Infinity) in Thomas County, Kan., was the next-largest addition. The plant is owned by ENGIE North America Inc. subsidiary Infinity Renewables LLC. The project is the largest wind farm in Engie North America’s portfolio. Its output, along with the output of the adjoining East Fork Wind Project (Solomon Forks) now under construction, is contracted to serve T-Mobile US Inc., Target Corp., Brown-Forman Corp. and Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty.

The four largest projects completed in September were fueled by wind, totaling 1,005 MW and continuing the wind project ramp up this year. Solar project additions through 10 units summed up to 178 MW during the month, an 87.4% increase from August.

The 1,200-MW Park City Wind Offshore facility was the largest project by generating capacity announced in September.

Gridflex Energy’s planned 600-MW Sweetwater Pumped Storage Project facility in San Juan County, N.M., was the second-largest announced project. The tentative point of interconnection to the regional grid would be the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is part of the preliminary permit application.

Several large plants were shut permanently in September. Exelon Corp. subsidiary Exelon Generation Co. LLC’s shutdown of the single-unit Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Dauphin County, Pa., with a capacity of 829 MW, was the largest retirement for the month.

In the second-largest retirement, 750 MW that comprised one of the three units at the coal-fired Navajo plant in Coconino County, Ariz., was shuttered.

More: US capacity retirements exceed additions by more than 1,000 MW in September