Coal, in this era of global climate crisis, is still the bedrock of US energy production. But that fact is changing according to a new study of comparative costs of coal plants versus wind and solar installations. According to the study, replacing 74% of existing coal power plants with renewable energy would immediately reduce power costs. By 2025 the figure rises to 86%. Wind power cuts coal cost almost in half in some localities. Despite extreme efforts by the current regime to subsidize a dying industry, the US is entering the "coal crossover zone" in which coal power is increasingly more expensive than clean alternatives. Analysis was restricted to replacements within 35 miles of an existing coal facility, making the study more conservative. Comparing alternative installations farther away, shifts the advantage more in favor of renewable energy. Even at the local level, 211GW of exiting coal capacity at the end of 2017 could be replaced by alternative power generation at a cheaper price. Within 6 years that figure jumps to 246GW, or nearly the entire coal plant capacity of the US.
Coal consumption in the US has dropped to its lowest level in 40 years, this despite substantial federal subsidies. Coal plants shut down at the second highest rate on record. The EIA attributes the trend to the low price of natural gas and the age of coal fueled generators, as well as the lowering cost of cleaner fuels. Burning coal is responsible for half of global green house emissions attributed to power generation. Ignoring the destiny of coal, Don Veto has made support of a dying industry a pillar of his regime, joining Poland--the biggest producer of hard coal in the EU--in a socially backward approach to reducing pollution and global warming. He has even directed the Energy Department to study reviving failed coal plants. His approach has been roundly rejected by most energy experts. FERC said no to a proposed bailout in January. That stance may change after a Trump nominee who supports both coal and nuclear power becomes a member of the commission. The International Energy Agency announced that global carbon emission will rise after a five year decline because of increase use of fossil fuels in advanced economies like the US.