An editorial from The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
It may be even worse news during coming winter seasons, as the nation’s remaining power plants struggle to meet demand.
A new Government Accountability Office report on shutdowns of coal-fired generating stations alarms Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
About 13 percent of the nation’s coal-fired generating capacity has been shut down since 2012 or is planned for closure by 2025, according to the report.
But that is just the headline, so to speak. Even more disturbing information is revealed in the body of the GAO report:
Closure will approach 13,000 megawatts next year, the agency estimates.
And the GAO report does not cover the most severe EPA plan of all, regarding carbon emissions.
Manchin’s reaction to the GAO report was to stress that, “I truly believe we are setting ourselves up for a major electric stability crisis in this country …” He is absolutely right – and, again, the process seems certain to accelerate unless Congress reins in the EPA.
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