Utah Foundation analyzes coal energy, production & the future

March 23, 2017 (UtahPulse.com)

Most coal consumption in the United States is for electricity generation. However, coal-fueled electricity’s share of the total has been decreasing. This is due in large part to the availability of low-cost natural gas, stringent environmental regulations that affect coal-fueled power plants, and favorable tax treatment for renewable technologies. Coal-fueled power plants have been closing and others are reducing their total output. As a result, coal production is also decreasing.
Utah is one of only six states that gets more than two-thirds of its electricity from coal. Utah Foundation analysis shows that states with a higher percentage of coal power tend to have lower electricity prices than those states with a lower percentage. However, this may change given that natural gas, wind, and solar projects are cheaper to develop and maintain than coal projects.
In fact, coal projects that are retiring across the country are not typically being replaced by other coal projects, but with natural gas and renewables. Utah is following that trend. For instance, the Intermountain Generating Station’s coal-fueled turbines in Millard County may be retired by 2025 when the company completes construction of its natural gas turbines.

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