Avast ye! The landlubbers of the US be swearin' t' shut down their coal plants, by Davy Jones' locker!
2023-12-02
Arrr, me hearties! The United States be swearin' to constructin' no new coal-spewin' vessels and scuttlin' the existin' ones, as part of their grand scheme to vanquish climate troubles. Yo ho ho, climate change be walkin' the plank!
The Biden Administration has announced plans to phase out existing coal plants and halt the construction of new ones as part of its green agenda. U.S. Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry made the announcement at the COP28 climate change summit in Dubai. He stated that the United States will be joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a pact of nearly 60 countries committed to accelerating the phase-out of coal-fired power stations. The goal is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Currently, coal accounts for just under 20% of U.S. electricity, but this figure has been steadily declining. President Biden has previously stated that coal plants across the country will be replaced with wind and solar energy. Federal clean energy tax credits and regulations are already making it economically difficult for coal plant operators to compete. A report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Finance Analysis predicts that 173 coal plants will close by 2030 and another 54 by 2040. Burning coal produces more carbon emissions than any other non-renewable fuel, with coal power having double the carbon footprint of natural gas. Despite these efforts, China continues to expand its coal power generation, accounting for 27% of global emissions. Delegates at COP28 have also called for the ban of new natural gas infrastructure projects in Western nations. The U.S. commitment to phasing out coal demonstrates its dedication to combatting climate change and transitioning to cleaner energy sources.