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Trump-appointed regulators reject plan to rescue coal and nuclear plants
- philipkglass 9y agoThis is a relief to hear. I personally would be happier if there were national incentives to keep nuclear plants and not coal operating as long as safely possible. Even completed, operating nuclear plants are losing money in competitive markets where gas generation has made big inroads. Nuclear has a much lower emissions profile than gas generation, comparable to the lowest-emission renewable sources. Some states like Illinois and New York have made efforts to support nuclear for that reason. Today's reactors will have to retire eventually, but while we're still burning coal in power plants it's a shame to retire them any earlier than technically necessary. Decarbonization will go better if renewables are nibbling away at fossil generation share and not being responsible to fill the hole left by prematurely retired reactors too.
- lurr 9y ago> I personally would be happier if there were national incentives to keep nuclear plants and not coal operating as long as safely possible Why? I get coal, but why not operate the nuclear plants if they are already running?
- jcranmer 9y agoI think you're misreading. GP is saying that plans to keep nuclear plants operating are good but plans to keep coal operating are not.
- philipkglass 9y agoCorrect.