2011 marks the tide turning for coal fired power plants in the US
Short sighted and outdated fossil fuel power plants are in decline as Solar, wind investments increase.
The outlook for coal continued to dim in 2011 as dozens of proposed new coal-fired plants were taken off the drawing board and utilities announced over more than 25,000 megawatts of coal plant retirements this year – and the nation saw record investments in wind and solar.
Why expand strip coal mines in Utah? The Sierra Club has put together these stats on the reality and future of coal:
2011 By the Numbers:
- 0 New coal plants broke ground
- 161 total number of new coal plants abandoned or defeated since 2002 (12 in 2011)
- 89 Total number of coal plant retired or announced to retire since 2010 (48 in 2011)
- 19 Colleges announced retirements of their campus coal plants
- 11% of existing coal-fired generation now announced to retire
- 1 veto of the largest mountaintop removal coal mining permit ever proposed
- 1,046 megawatts of solar power installed (the largest in history) and 3,360 megawatts of wind energy brought online during first three quarters of 2011
- 20% percentage of electricity that Iowa is now getting from wind power
- $50,000,000 donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies to move beyond coal
“We are clearly witnessing the end of our dependency on coal and because of our successful efforts we are helping to move our nation toward a cleaner energy future that benefits both the public health and the public good,” said Michael Bloomberg.
Why is Sevier County, Utah still pushing for a fossil fuel, natural gas power plant?
In light of the obvious impact on ground water for drinking and agricultural use, Natural gas extraction in large part is a dirty business. It is simply short sighted and threatens the livelihoods and heritage of Utah’s agricultural and generational heritage.
How long will Natural Gas power plants be relevant? Predictions include within 5-10 years, Natural Gas Power plants will be outdated. Sevier county Utah needs to be thinking with a longer time perspective. Natural Gas Power generation is so obviously short sighted, we need to be honestly looking into who is influencing and pushing for this type of investment in our valley
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