“It is impossible to claim that retaining an uneconomic resource will benefit ratepayers,” Goggin said.

The #coal plant that has run the longest beyond its retirement date is the JH Campbell plant in #Michigan. Starting last May, the #Energy Dept began issuing rolling 90-day orders for the plant to stay open. It has so far cost $80 million to keep running, acc/to filings from Consumers Energy, the #utility that operates the power plant.

#Trump #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #FossilFuels #law

“It is impossible to claim that retaining an uneconomic resource will benefit ratepayers,” Goggin said.

The #coal plant that has run the longest beyond its retirement date is the JH Campbell plant in #Michigan. Starting last May, the #Energy Dept began issuing rolling 90-day orders for the plant to stay open. It has so far cost $80 million to keep running, acc/to filings from Consumers Energy, the #utility that operates the power plant.

#Trump #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #FossilFuels #law

“It is our members that ultimately are going to pay for the cost of this order,” Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association CEO Duane Highley said in a statement.

An #Energy Dept spox called #coal fired power “one of the most affordable & reliable sources of #electricity because it can be counted on by #grid operators to meet peak demand” in a statement.

But Goggin & other #energy experts told CNN they have been confounded by the admin’s claims that electricity from coal is affordable.

Routine maintenance & upgrades to the #grid were already causing households nationwide to experience sticker shock on their monthly #bills. These added costs could drive regional prices even higher in the coming year. 2 co-operative #electrical #utilities that own the #Colorado #coal plant forced to stay online asked the #Trump admin to reconsider because it would raise #costs on their ratepayers.

#idiocracy #affordability #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #energy #law

All told, the #Trump admin keeping these plants open could cost #US #utility customers $3-6 billion by the end of 2028, the #Grid Strategies report found.

Some are literally broken: 2 #coal power plant units in #Colorado & #Indiana were not operational when Wright ordered them out of retirement, meaning they will need costly repairs & maintenance before they can even hope to be turned back on.

#idiocracy #affordability #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #energy #law

“It is our members that ultimately are going to pay for the cost of this order,” Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association CEO Duane Highley said in a statement.

An #Energy Dept spox called #coal fired power “one of the most affordable & reliable sources of #electricity because it can be counted on by #grid operators to meet peak demand” in a statement.

But Goggin & other #energy experts told CNN they have been confounded by the admin’s claims that electricity from coal is affordable.

Routine maintenance & upgrades to the #grid were already causing households nationwide to experience sticker shock on their monthly #bills. These added costs could drive regional prices even higher in the coming year. 2 co-operative #electrical #utilities that own the #Colorado #coal plant forced to stay online asked the #Trump admin to reconsider because it would raise #costs on their ratepayers.

#idiocracy #affordability #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #energy #law

All told, the #Trump admin keeping these plants open could cost #US #utility customers $3-6 billion by the end of 2028, the #Grid Strategies report found.

Some are literally broken: 2 #coal power plant units in #Colorado & #Indiana were not operational when Wright ordered them out of retirement, meaning they will need costly repairs & maintenance before they can even hope to be turned back on.

#idiocracy #affordability #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #energy #law

But maintaining ancient #power plants is very expensive. Many #utilities across the country have spent the last several years slowly retiring their oldest & dirtiest #coal facilities, & replacing that energy with a mix of newer, low-cost options including #gas plants & #renewables.

“These are old plants,” said Michael Goggin, executive VP of #energy consulting group #Grid Strategies & the author of the recent report tallying the costs of coal plants. “They are no longer economic.”

#Trump #law

It’s a relatively new use for an #Energy Dept “emergency power” normally deployed to bypass #pollution limits & keep #power plants running more frequently during a hurricane, or the recent winter cold snaps. However, last year, Energy Sec Chris Wright used this emergency power to order those #coal plants & one #oil plant to stay open well past their shut-down date—arguing there wasn’t enough energy being generated to power the #grid if they went dark.

#Trump #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #law

The #Trump admin has so far prevented 5 aging #coal-fired #power plants from shutting down at their planned retirement dates. The admin says this is a cost-saving solution for Americans at a time when rising #energy bills are causing concern around the country. But experts say it’s likely to increase energy prices, instead. In fact, new analysis shows the move could cost #US ratepayers billions over the next 2 years.

#idiocracy #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #law

#Trump is using “emergency powers” to keep aging #coal plants open. It could increase your #electricity bill.

A #Michigan #power plant that has consumed coal in a roaring furnace to generate electricity since the early 1960s was supposed to retire last year. Instead, it’s been kept running for months on the orders of the Trump admin.

And it’s not the only one.

#affordability #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #energy #EnvironmentalLaw #law
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/climate/trump-aging-coal-plants-electricity-bills

But maintaining ancient #power plants is very expensive. Many #utilities across the country have spent the last several years slowly retiring their oldest & dirtiest #coal facilities, & replacing that energy with a mix of newer, low-cost options including #gas plants & #renewables.

“These are old plants,” said Michael Goggin, executive VP of #energy consulting group #Grid Strategies & the author of the recent report tallying the costs of coal plants. “They are no longer economic.”

#Trump #law

It’s a relatively new use for an #Energy Dept “emergency power” normally deployed to bypass #pollution limits & keep #power plants running more frequently during a hurricane, or the recent winter cold snaps. However, last year, Energy Sec Chris Wright used this emergency power to order those #coal plants & one #oil plant to stay open well past their shut-down date—arguing there wasn’t enough energy being generated to power the #grid if they went dark.

#Trump #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #law

The #Trump admin has so far prevented 5 aging #coal-fired #power plants from shutting down at their planned retirement dates. The admin says this is a cost-saving solution for Americans at a time when rising #energy bills are causing concern around the country. But experts say it’s likely to increase energy prices, instead. In fact, new analysis shows the move could cost #US ratepayers billions over the next 2 years.

#idiocracy #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #law

#Trump is using “emergency powers” to keep aging #coal plants open. It could increase your #electricity bill.

A #Michigan #power plant that has consumed coal in a roaring furnace to generate electricity since the early 1960s was supposed to retire last year. Instead, it’s been kept running for months on the orders of the Trump admin.

And it’s not the only one.

#affordability #CostOfLiving #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #FossilFuels #energy #EnvironmentalLaw #law
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/climate/trump-aging-coal-plants-electricity-bills

Snow is turning grey near the Afşin-Elbistan coal complex in #Türkiye.

If this is what coal does to snow, imagine what it does to your lungs and the air we all breathe.

Coal pollution releases tiny toxic particles that are among the worst for respiratory and heart health, especially for children and older people.

This region and its people deserve a green and just transition that protects their health and the land, water and air they depend on.

via Greenpeace Türkiye

#coal #climate #health

Snow is turning grey near the Afşin-Elbistan coal complex in #Türkiye.

If this is what coal does to snow, imagine what it does to your lungs and the air we all breathe.

Coal pollution releases tiny toxic particles that are among the worst for respiratory and heart health, especially for children and older people.

This region and its people deserve a green and just transition that protects their health and the land, water and air they depend on.

via Greenpeace Türkiye

#coal #climate #health

The Guardian: ‘It’s sick’: Trump administration uses mascot called ‘Coalie’ to push dirtiest fossil fuel

Cartoon lump of coal with giant eyes was spotlighted by US interior secretary in X post saying: ‘Mine, Baby, Mine!’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/03/trump-administration-coalie-mascot-fossil-fuels

#climateemergency #climatecrisis #climate #coal #trump