200 Club: Coal retiring at a rate of one plant every 10 days since 2010
Coal plants are retiring at record rates, the most recent example being Alliant Energy's announcement that it will phase out coal use at six of its Iowa plants -- marking the 200th coal plant in the United States to close.
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Credit: stevotion |
A milestone in the clean energy transition, the retirement of 200 coal plants nationwide represents the phase out of nearly 40 percent of the 523 U.S. coal plants that were in operation just five years ago.
The development also underscores Iowa's growth as a clean energy state. The state already generates more than 25 percent of the energy it uses to power homes and businesses from wind farms -- making it first in the nation for power generated by wind. Further, nearly 7,000 Iowa residents are employed in the wind energy sector -- more than any other state -- and has the potential to generate 100 times its current wind energy output.
Iowa serves as a model for neighboring states who want to capitalize on clean energy, which can also be a cost-efficient and commonsense way to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's forthcoming Clean Power Plan requirements.
"In Iowa and across the country, people are demanding clean air and clean water -- and they are winning," said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "Iowa is a leader in America's transition from coal to renewable energy, and is providing a model for other communities as they demand and realize a 100 percent clean energy future."
The settlement with the Sierra Club requires Alliant to phase out coal use or install pollution controls at all eight of its coal-fired power plants to comply with the Clean Air Act. The plants were emitting more pollution than was allowed by the company's air permits.
The Sierra Club estimates that, since 2010, coal plants have been phased out at a rate that has averaged one coal plant every ten days since 2010. Over the same period, the U.S. has installed unprecedented wind and solar power generation capacity. In fact, since 2005, clean energy sources like wind and solar have increased four-fold since 2005, as prices for clean energy have plummeted.
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