If you think the conversion from the old to new U.S. energy systems is taking an insufferably long time, consider the fate of coal. Ten years ago, coal dominated energy production, accounting for half of the nation’s electrical output. Today — despite a relaxed regulatory regimen aiming to revive coal plants — the United States is projected to generate more electricity this year using renewables than coal, something that has never happened before.
Coal plants have become relatively expensive to operate, causing many utilities to abandon the energy source, which is notorious for being the dirtiest of the fossil-fuel family. Witness the announcements from large power companies such as Duke Energy and Xcel Energy to shutter at least four dozen large coal plants by 2025. Meanwhile, no U.S. utilities have plans to build new coal facilities.
The latest report from the Energy Information Administration estimates total U.S. coal consumption will fall by nearly one-quarte
