Last week, we asked, "When do you think the last coal fired power plant in the United States will shut down?"

Answers:

2020     6.7%

2021     0.0%

2022     6.7%

2023     0.0%

2024     0.0%

2025   20.0%

2026     0.0%

2027     0.0%

2028     0.0%

2029     0.0%

2030 or later 66.7%

Comments:

>My answer assumes that there will be technological innovations in the use of coal and power plant design and technology over the next two decades.

>Depends on the political climate - which party is in office.

>It may be sooner unless reasonable people come to the forefront and cause reason to prevail, for a change.

>People will realize that man-made CO2 is not as bad as it is claimed to be. Coal plants will be equipped with advanced emission controls, like the best ones are today, but not CO2 capture. Alternatively, energy cources cheaper than coal will develop, (senisble nuclear ? heat from deep underground ? low cost solar ?) so coal will go the way of the dodo.

>Generation cost and labor will keep coal plants in service.

>Sanity must return.

>Coal is too cheap to be overruled.

>Economics and technology will overcome the president's agenda. Think about the diesel truck or train engine of 30 years ago, compared to today. Diesel power will take a significant part of what today is gas engine. Look at light planes as an example. Coal plants will have to be redesigned, not just ad another eraser - scrubber to the stack...

This week's quiz is here.

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