I came across two interesting news stories today that illustrate why, despite the current president's best efforts, coal will keep dying and renewables will keep growing.
1. Places like Texas and Iowa will keep adding wind (and solar in TX) at an incredible clip because it is the cheapest option.
Cheaper than new coal plants, cheaper in places, than even natural gas. Remember, once built, solar and wind have no fuel cost.
Check this article explaining why wind and solar are putting a major hurt on coal in Texas and scaring the crap out of natural gas as well: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-06-20/texas-is-too-windy-and-sunny-for-old-energy-companies-to-make-money
If you weren't already aware, coal plants are closing like crazy and have been since about 2010. Many more closures are planned for the next 2-3 years and these are happening in places like Kentucky, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and North Dakota (aka Red States). In the past 15 years, coal dropped from generating half of our electricity to less than a third of it.
Note, this graph is already dated. As of the past few months, renewables (including large hydro) have overtaken nuclear and are producing over 20% of the electricity in the country.
2. Mayors, governors, CEOs, and other assorted leaders representing a large chunk of our population and economic output have pledged to uphold the Paris Agreement
...and do enough to keep the country as a whole on track to meet the obligations of the agreement. (Not to mention, the current president's action won't get the US out of the Paris Agreement until he is likely out of office, and other decision makers will have a say.)
Check my other article on how renewables now produce more electricity in the US than nuclear plants (and soon coal).
@johnniec/renewable-energy-now-provides-more-electricity-than-nuclear-in-the-us
Feel free to check out my other posts on science, photography, volunteer computing, sustainability, cryptocurrencies with a purpose, and travel. Here are some of my favorites:
Photography and Travel
Hawaii – Lava and Plants
Death to Snowballs!
End of the Road – Lava!
Sunset Over Mt. Tamalpais, California
Toque Macaques in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Birds on San Francisco Bay – With GIFs
My Favorite Places to Backpack in the US
Why You Should Visit Arkansas: Mountains, Rivers, Public Diamond Mines & Great Food!
Sleepy Lizard
Sustainability and Climate
Renewable Energy Now Provides More Electricity Than Nuclear in the US
Using Algae for Wastewater Treatment and Biofuel Production
Why Climate Progress Will Continue in the USA.
Six Non-tree Things Paper Can be Made From (I promise these are interesting)
Drawdown - The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming
Science, Volunteer Computing, and Gridcoin
Let Your Computer Dream About Science While You Sleep (& Earn Cryptocurrency For Doing So!)
Steemit Writers, Science Needs Your Help! Get the word out on how any computer or Android can boost research on cancer, astrophysics, clean energy & more!
The Best Volunteer Computing Screensavers – Crowdsourcing Project
Scientists of Steemit! Tell us about your research on #Science!
BOINC – Impressive Accomplishments and Incredible Potential