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E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
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The Beginning of the End for Coal: A Long Year in the Life of the U.S. Coal Industry |
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WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Apr. 3 -/E-Wire/--
“With concerns about climate change mounting, the era of coal-fired electricity generation in the United States may be coming to a close,” says Lester R. Brown, President, and Jonathan G. Dorn, Staff Researcher, of Earth Policy Institute, in a recent release, “The Beginning of the End for Coal: A Long Year in the Life of the U.S. Coal Industry”. In early 2007, a U.S. Department of Energy report listed 151 coal-fired power plants in the planning stages in the United States. But during 2007, 59 proposed plants were either refused licenses by state governments or quietly abandoned. In addition, close to 50 coal plants are being contested in the courts, and the remaining plants will likely be challenged when they reach the permitting stage.
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What began as a few local ripples of resistance to coal-fired power plants is quickly evolving into a national tidal wave of opposition from environmental, health, farm, and community organizations as well as leading climate scientists and state governments. Growing concern over pending legislation to regulate carbon emissions is creating uncertainty in financial markets. Leading financial groups are now downgrading coal stocks and requiring utilities seeking funding for coal plants to include a cost for carbon emissions when proving economic viability.
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On March 11, 2008, Representative Henry Waxman of California introduced a bill to ban new coal-fired power plants without carbon emissions controls nationwide until federal regulations are put in place to address greenhouse gas emissions. If Congress passes this bill, it will deal a death blow to the future of U.S. coal-fired power generation. Yet even without a legislative mandate for a moratorium, the contraction in financial support for new coal-fired power plants is escalating toward a de facto moratorium. The timeline that follows is witness to what may well be the beginning of the end of coal-fired power in the United States.
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Click here to view the Release and Coal Timeline.
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Contact Info:
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For information contact:
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Media Contact:
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Reah Janise Kauffman
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Tel: (202) 496-9290 x 12
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E-mail: rjk@earthpolicy.org
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Research Contact:
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Janet Larsen
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Tel: (202) 496-9290 x 14
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E-mail: jlarsen@earthpolicy.org
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Earth Policy Institute
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1350 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 403
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Washington, DC 20036
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Web: www.earthpolicy.org
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Website : Earth Policy Institute
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/SOURCE:
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Earth Policy Institute |
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04-03-2008 |
/CONTACT:
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For information contact:
Media Contact:
Reah Janise Kauffman
Tel: (202) 496-9290 x 12
E-mail: rjk@earthpolicy.org
Research Contact:
Janet Larsen
Tel: (202) 496-9290 x 14
E-mail: jlarsen@earthpolicy.org
Earth Policy Institute
1350 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 403
Washington, DC 20036
Web: www.earthpolicy.org |
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http://www.earth-policy.org/
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