Has Trump modified the retirement plans for the nation’s largest coal crops?

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There’s renewed speak of a coal energy comeback in america, impressed by Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and forecasts of hovering electrical energy demand.

The proof thus far solely reveals that some crops are getting small extensions on their retirement dates. This implies a slowdown in coal’s charge of decline, which is dangerous for the surroundings, nevertheless it does little to vary the long-term trajectory for the home coal business.

In October, I wrote about how 5 of the nation’s 10 largest coal-fired energy crops had retirement dates. Right this moment, I’m revisiting the record, offering some updates after which taking a couple of steps again to have a look at US coal crops as an entire. Take into account this the “earlier than” image that may be judged in opposition to the “after” in 4 years.

Some coal plant house owners have already pushed again retirement timetables. The biggest instance, this one from simply earlier than the election, is the Gibson plant in Indiana, the second-largest coal plant within the nation. It’s set to shut in 2038 as an alternative of 2035, following an announcement in October from the proprietor, Duke Power.

However the adjustments don’t represent a coal comeback on this nation. For that to occur, energy corporations would should be constructing new crops to switch the numerous which can be closing, and there’s virtually no growth of latest coal crops.

That stated, there have been some adjustments since October.

As just lately as a couple of months in the past, Southern Co. was saying it supposed to shut Plant Bowen in Georgia by 2035 on the newest. Bowen is the most important coal plant within the nation, with a summer time capability of three,200 megawatts.