Coal power plant with towers and smoke stacks.

Coal closures stall as energy demands rise, driving up costs

Despite a long-term decline in coal use, rising electricity demands from data centers and industry are prompting utilities to keep expensive coal plants running, delaying their retirement and increasing customer costs.

Emma Foehringer Merchant reports for Floodlight.


In short:

  • More than 30 U.S. coal plants scheduled for closure will remain operational due to surging electricity needs, especially in regions with growing data centers.
  • Utilities are running coal plants "uneconomically," costing customers over $5 billion between 2015 and 2023, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.
  • Regulatory loopholes allow utilities to pass higher costs to customers, despite the availability of cleaner and cheaper energy sources.

Key quote:

“We really do have growth in demand and forecasts of growth that have not been seen really in the careers of most of the people who are working in the electric power world.”

— Michael Jacobs, senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists

Why this matters:

Prolonging coal plant operations increases carbon emissions, impacting climate goals and public health. Addressing regulatory and industry incentives is crucial to transitioning to cleaner energy while meeting rising electricity demands.

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Credit: 1photo/BigStock Photo ID: 18776198

The hidden cost of powering your phone might be someone else’s cancer

As the world races to secure rare earth elements for tech and defense, residents of Baotou, China bear the brunt of toxic pollution and displacement.

Amy Hawkins reports for The Guardian.

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Toxic mine runoff cleanup revives West Virginia waterways and extracts rare earth elements

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