Still, Mr. Matheson said, his member co-ops are already moving away from coal in response to economic reality: Other fuels have become more cost-effective. “The electric cooperative fuel mix for providing electricity is changing, with increased investments in natural gas and renewables,” he said. Indeed, experts said it was unlikely that the new rule would reverse the decline of America’s coal industry. More than 200 coal plants have retired since 2010, mainly because of competition from cheaper natural gas and renewable energy. By comparison, the Trump plan will cut carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 0.7 to 1.5 percent by 2030.

Source: New York Times August 21, 2018 01:04 UTC