Economics
Coal Plants Keep Shutting Despite Trump’s Order to Rescue Them
- Utilities say coal, nuclear power units still to be shut
- Competition from renewables, natural gas keeps up pressure
This article is for subscribers only.
President Donald Trump has ordered a rescue of the nation’s struggling coal and nuclear power industries, but that doesn’t mean utilities are reconsidering the shutdown of unprofitable plants.
Many power generators contacted said Trump’s June 1 announcement hasn’t altered their plans to retire old units even as the administration dangles the prospect of using emergency powers to force grid operators to buy power from struggling plants.