U.S. Commits to Phasing Out Coal Power Plants

Joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance, the U.S. takes a significant step towards reducing its carbon emissions.

The United States has committed to phasing out coal power plants, joining 56 other nations in the Powering Past Coal Alliance.
No date has been given for when the existing plants would have to go, but other Biden regulatory actions and international commitments already in the works had meant no coal by 2035.
As of October, just under 20% of the U.S. electricity is powered by coal, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
The amount of coal burned in the United States last year is less than half what it was in 2008.
Coal produces about 211 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide per million BTUs of energy produced, compared to natural gas which produces about 117 pounds and gasoline which is about 156 pounds, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.