Britain shuts down its last coal power plant, ending an era

Britain is closing its final coal-fired power station, marking the end of over 200 years of reliance on coal to power its economy.

William Booth reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station will stop burning coal after 57 years, signaling Britain’s transition to cleaner energy.
The country is the first in the G-7 to eliminate coal power, now depending on natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy sources.
Former workers express pride and nostalgia but acknowledge the importance of moving away from coal for the environment.

Key quote:

“This will be the end. This has been a personal journey for me, as well as a national journey.”

— Peter O'Grady, plant manager

Why this matters:

Britain’s coal phase-out shows how rapidly energy transitions can occur, with other major economies set to follow. The shift reflects broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change on a global scale.

Learn more about the health effects of coal energy: Want healthier babies? Shut down coal plants

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Britain shuts down its last coal power plant, ending an era

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