Coal's Enemies Don't Care About You

By Frank Clemente and Fred Palmer; Coal is the Cornerstone LLC

 

Frank Clemente

 

Fred Palmer

Energy Ventures Analysis, one of the leading energy research firms in the US, warned in their study of 2025 electricity issues: “As this extreme weather event and the others before it have shown, dispatchable, highly reliable generating resources like coal fired power plants are paramount to ensuring reliable and affordable electricity service to electric consumers across the United States”

The negative impacts of closing coal plants in the US are now self-evident, and the worst is yet to come. In the last decade, upwards of 300 coal power plants have ceased operation and coal-based generation has been reduced from 45% of electricity to 16%. (1) Reliability has decreased as there is overwhelming evidence that in virtually every polar vortex or cold event of the last 10 years, coal’s contribution has increased while solar and wind have not only faltered but have often been virtually non-existent. Natural gas has frequently underperformed since production was either frozen by weather (Texas) or gas was diverted away from power plants to heat homes and businesses (New England).  (2) Families have suffered. In just the last 5 years residential electric rates have risen 33%--from 13.15 cents per kWh to 17.47 cents per kWh.  In States which have abandoned coal altogether residential rates have exploded.  In Massachusetts, for example, families pay a stunning 80% above the national average. (3) National security has been placed at risk as the US becomes ever more dependent on intermittent solar and wind and natural gas- the fuel with the greatest price volatility of all. Consider the  2025 Polar vortex in the PJM Interconnection: In December 2024, natural gas was about $1.90 per MM/Btu. When the vortex hit in January-February, gas prices exceeded $8.50 and spiked to $30. In sharp contrast, coal prices remained steady at about $2.50/MMBtu. (4) Finally, the electrification aspirations of the United States are now under the shadow of inadequate power sources to support not only artificial intelligence and its associated data centers but also reindustrialization, a resurgence of manufacturing, electric vehicles, and other emerging sources of power demand.

Yet, despite these real and present dangers, opponents simply ignore the importance of coal in maintaining system stability and affordable prices, proving that their elitist agenda is far removed from affordable and reliable electricity for American consumers. Consider the forces vociferously arrayed against coal:

To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.

CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.  

 

Baughan Group (Phillips Global)

Phillips Global is the newest addition to The Baughan Group companies with the merger of Rija, Gauley-Robertson, CAI Industries, and Phillips Machine Service assets. 

Phillips Global is one of the largest full service companies of its type in the world, setting the pace for equipment service and support. We are involved in almost all phases of mining equipment repair, rebuild, and remanufacture. Phillips Global is also the largest supplier of aftermarket parts to the underground mining industry in the United States. 

Phillips Global services customers domestically and internationally with a broad range of products, goods and services. Our world headquarters is located in Beckley, West Virginia at the former Phillips Machine Service location. 

Specific areas of operation include rebuilding continuous miners, remanufacturing of shuttle cars, repairing and rebuilding of all scoops, bolters, feeder breakers and other underground mining equipment. From cutter drums to longwalls, if it goes in a mine, we can fix it.

To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.

CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News. 

 

Coal Demand is Up and Utilities Recognize the Value of their Plants

U.S. coal generation is roaring. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. electric power sector consumed 15% more coal in the first half of 2025 than in the first half of 2024. Higher electricity demand and higher natural gas prices are driving the uptick. And it’s these two dynamics – along with ongoing concern about the pace in which new generation of any kind can be added to the grid – that has more and more utilities pumping the brakes on coal plant retirements.

Add Duke Energy to the long and growing list of utilities recognizing how essential their coal plants are to meeting soaring power demand. Duke Energy recently announced it plans to keep open three North Carolina coal power plants past their original retirement dates.

Duke said these extensions “reflect rising electricity demand across the Carolinas at an unprecedented pace.” Of course, Duke’s plans also reflect the Trump administration’s work to undue the Biden-era regulatory onslaught on coal generation. Now given the opportunity to evaluate the economics and need for their plants absent a crushing suite of rules designed to force closures, utilities are choosing to keep plants running.

If the Duke announcement and its recognition of soaring demand sounds familiar, it’s because utilities across the country are now confronting a startling new reality.  In Kentucky, Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities announced on July 29 their plans to extend the life of the Mill Creek coal power plant, citing “record-breaking economic development needs,” notably from data centers. The utilities now expect up to a 45% jump in demand in less than a decade.    

To continue reading, click here to view the full article on CoalZoom.com.

CoalZoom.com - Your Foremost Source for Coal News.