All articles tagged with #coal plants
The decline of coal plants in the US is being reversed as they are repurposed into AI data centers powered by natural gas, driven by the urgent need for rapid, reliable energy to support the AI boom, with a focus on faster grid connections and cleaner energy sources like gas, wind, and solar.
The last coal-fired power plants in New England, Schiller Station and Merrimack Station, are set to close by 2028, marking the region's transition to green energy. Environmental activists have long advocated for the closure, citing health and environmental concerns. The sites will be redeveloped into renewable energy parks, featuring solar and utility-scale energy storage facilities. While praised by green energy advocates, some experts warn of potential reliability issues with the shift away from baseload power generation. The closures reflect a broader trend of coal plant retirements across the U.S. as the nation moves towards a cleaner energy future.
New England's last running coal plant, Merrimack Station, will cease operations by 2028 as part of a settlement agreement, with the Schiller Station also committing to shut down its coal-fired generators by 2025. The plants will be transformed into renewable energy parks, with plans for solar and battery storage. Advocates see this as a significant win for the environment and public health, while the company aims to transition to clean energy facilities and optimize the grid for reliability without current plans to use gas.
The Biden administration is set to release the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rules for power plants, which will require utilities to either reduce or capture their planet-warming pollution. The proposal will push utilities to capture a share of their carbon pollution before it escapes into the sky. The rules will face scrutiny for whether it complies with the realities of the power industry and Supreme Court restrictions on the agency's authority. The proposal will not explicitly force coal plants to close, but it will require them to retrofit to capture their emissions. Gas plants will also have to capture carbon if they run most of the time. EPA will allow power companies and state regulators to meet the rules' standards any way they like, as the Clean Air Act mandates.