Reliability has for many years been the main driver for retrofitting an aging U.S. coal fleet. More recent drivers include tougher environmental legislation and the growing use of natural gas. Today, the combination of stricter emis-iipn limits, reduced short term demand for electricity, low natural gas prices and the superior operational flexibility of gas-fired plants are placing new pressure on coal plants. As a result, many coal plant owners are either shutting down plants or re-evaluating their generation strategies and the positioning of their generating assets.
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