Rules may force 60 GW of coal power offline

摘要

A myriad of environmental regulations, including some sort of carbon mandate, could force retirements of at least 60 GW of coal-fired generation in the next decade, according to an analysis by consultants Wood McKenzie. Released Friday, the analysis finds that the longterm viability of coal-fired generation, especially in the Midwest, remains at risk, owing mainly to aging coal-fired power plants, and regulations for nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides, mercury and other hazardous air pollutants, coal ash disposal and carbon priced in the low 40s dollars. To a lesser extent, coal-fired generation remains at risk from continued low natural gas prices, which the consultancy for the purposes of this analysis estimated in the 5.50 dollars -6 dollars /MMBtu range for 2013 and beyond, according to Hind Farag, Wood Mackenzie's North American power research manager.