Coal Is Uncompetitive. Why Do We Burn So Much?
Energy Gang11 Jun 2021

Coal Is Uncompetitive. Why Do We Burn So Much?

America gets 20 percent of its electricity from coal. That’s a 50 percent drop since the peak in 2007. But if coal is becoming so economically uncompetitive, why does it still make up so much of our grid mix?

This week: Coal is no longer king. But it still has a lot of power across the land. How do we banish it for good?

Katherine and Stephen welcome Joe Daniel as a guest co-host this week. Joe is a senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Joe joins us to talk about the problem of coal plant “self-scheduling,” which locks in operation of dirty power plants even when the economics don’t make sense.

We’ll also look at how we unburden ourselves from the long-term agreements these coal plants are under? One solution is to buy back debt through securitization — basically like refinancing a mortgage. How will it work?

Finally, we’ll discuss the numbers behind nationalizing the coal industry. Could we buy up the entire sector, shut it down, and then offer wages, healthcare, pensions, and job placement to displaced workers? It would only cost somewhere between $33 billion and $83 billion over 15 years, according to estimates from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The Energy Gang is brought to you by Aurora Solar. Join Aurora on June 8th and 9th for the second annual virtual summit. Hear from, and interact with, industry leaders, policy makers, sales experts, and more. Get your questions ready, and save your spot by registering now.

The Energy Gang is brought to you by Enel X, a leader in energy storage, DER management software, and smart electric vehicle charging stations to increase project value. Learn what Enel X can do for your business.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(567)

The connected world of energy | Special episode from Wood Mackenzie

The connected world of energy | Special episode from Wood Mackenzie

Host Ed Crooks talks to Jason Liu, Chief Executive of Wood Mackenzie and co-author (with Chief Analyst Simon Flowers) of a new book, Connected, about the fast-changing world of energy. They are also j...

14 Okt 202544min

Does low-carbon hydrogen still have a future? | Special pre-ADIPEC preview episode

Does low-carbon hydrogen still have a future? | Special pre-ADIPEC preview episode

Low-carbon hydrogen has taken a few knocks in the headlines lately. There have been cancelled projects and fewer splashy announcements. Policy support has been jittery. Is momentum fading, or are we s...

13 Okt 202539min

How can the grid help AI, and how can AI help the grid? Live from NYU at New York Climate Week, featuring leaders from Nvidia and Amazon | Energy Gang Live from Climate Week

How can the grid help AI, and how can AI help the grid? Live from NYU at New York Climate Week, featuring leaders from Nvidia and Amazon | Energy Gang Live from Climate Week

Recorded in front of a packed room at NYU’s Kimmel Center during Climate Week NYC, Ed Crooks and Amy Myers Jaffe moderate a debate on the high-stakes topic of AI and energy. They dig deep into the que...

30 Sep 20251h 8min

What do China’s climate commitments mean for energy?

What do China’s climate commitments mean for energy?

For COP30, the international climate talks in Brazil in November, the countries of the world are supposed to roll out their new Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs: their commitments to cut em...

26 Sep 202550min

Everyone is talking (again!) about a coming revival in nuclear power. What needs to change to make it happen? | More from New York Climate Week

Everyone is talking (again!) about a coming revival in nuclear power. What needs to change to make it happen? | More from New York Climate Week

At Climate Week NYC continues, the hottest topic is the question of how to meet growing demand for electricity while cutting emissions. In New York State, electricity use is expected to increase by 25...

25 Sep 202547min

As the pressure for climate action fades, what is driving investment in clean energy? | The big talking points from New York Climate Week

As the pressure for climate action fades, what is driving investment in clean energy? | The big talking points from New York Climate Week

It’s New York Climate Week this week, and we’re bringing you highlights from all the key debates and discussions. Climate Week NYC is one of the most important gatherings in the energy calendar, bring...

24 Sep 202536min

Carbon capture could be an important tool for tackling climate change. Can we find productive ways to use that carbon?

Carbon capture could be an important tool for tackling climate change. Can we find productive ways to use that carbon?

As fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, there is renewed interest in what can be done to capture carbon dioxide. Until now, most of the investment in carbon capture has gone ...

22 Sep 202542min

Data centers for AI will need to embrace flexibility if our electricity system is going to cope. How can large loads support the grid?

Data centers for AI will need to embrace flexibility if our electricity system is going to cope. How can large loads support the grid?

AI is adding to US electricity consumption at a pace not seen in decades. That demand growth is creating new strains on the grid in many parts of the country. But what if AI could instead help keep th...

16 Sep 202550min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
pengepodden-2
pengesnakk
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
rss-politisk-preik
utbytte
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
finansredaksjonen
lederpodden
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
rss-markedspuls-2
liberal-halvtime
rss-sunn-okonomi
rss-pa-konto