Coal consumption dropped in 2019 by 13%. That is the largest decline in coal use since a 1954 recession. Another significant drop is expected in 2020 as coal is increasingly not competitive with natural gas, solar and wind as an electric generation resource. It is likely that nearly all coal fired electric generation plants will be shuttered by 2030. The market and private industry is moving to lead in addressing climate change where the Trump administration will not go. A national climate change policy would facilitate and focus public investment to lead the evolution of our energy production sector to net zero CO2 by no later than the international goal of 2050.
