Trump Has a Plan to Save Coal and Hobble Clean Energy

[Rhiannon12866]

President Donald Trump may soon have a chance to prove wrong the notion that economics will kill the U.S. coal industry and keep clean energy thriving.

Two initiatives pending in Washington -- one to prop up large traditional power plants and a second to impose tariffs on solar panels -- could let Trump upend wholesale electricity markets and tip the advantage away from renewables.

The moves, which invoke laws that haven’t been used in a decade, come as Congress weighs a White House tax plan that may undermine a key source of financing for clean energy. Together, they raise questions about whether falling costs will be enough to keep wind and solar thriving under a president intent on supporting fossil fuels.

“The general direction of travel seems pretty clear,” said Ethan Zindler, a Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyst. “And if all of those things fall into place, they are not great news for renewables.”


More: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-02/trump-may-have-found-paths-to-save-coal-and-hobble-clean-energy

[gtar100]

1. Because, you know, that's what most of us want, right?

I second that.

[BigmanPigman]

2. I wish someone had a plan to save our country and planet

and hobble him instead. Hurry up Mueller!

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I know! Whenever I read a story like this - and there's another one every day -

I feel the panic setting in yet again. Will there be anything left by the time Mueller is done??