Post · BT Free Social

Post

#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

CNN

Trump is using emergency powers to keep aging coal plants open. It could increase your bill | CNN

Across the country, creaking old power plants that consumed coal in roaring furnaces are being forced out of retirement by the Trump administration. This use of emergency powers is supposed to reduce American’s energy costs but experts say it is already doing the opposite.

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 23 hours ago

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

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 23 hours ago

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

bouriquet

@bouriquet@mastodon.social replied · 23 hours ago

@Nonilex So they would rather pay enormous sums to keep these old plants running (and polluting) rather than buy hydro power from Canada is my guess

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 23 hours ago

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

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 23 hours ago

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

PedestrianError :vbus: :nblvt:

@PedestrianError@towns.gay replied · 23 hours ago

@Nonilex On what planet to pro-business Republicans approve of government forcing a business to reopen a non-functional plant and operate it at a loss?

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 23 hours ago

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

Nonilex

@Nonilex@masto.ai replied · 23 hours ago

“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.

2 more replies (not shown)

BT Free Social

BT Free is a non-profit organization founded by @ozoned@btfree.social . It's goal is for digital privacy rights, advocacy and consulting. This goal will be attained by hosting open platforms to allow others to seamlessly join the Fediverse on moderated instances or by helping others join the Fediverse.

BT Free Social: About · Code of conduct · Privacy ·

Bonfire social · 1.0.1 no JS en

Automatic federation enabled