Why Communities Are Cutting Coal
The announcement of the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan prompted immediate action throughout the country. At the state level, policy makers and elected officials varied in their responses—as many challenged the federal program in federal courts. At the lower levels of government though, cities, communities and regional utilities began devising ways of leading the transition to clean power—showing that climate action starts at the local level.
This transformation has been manifested differently to meet the needs of diverse geographies, communities and regions. While some adopt solar, others are moving to wind power, hydro and natural gas, and all of the plans feature a move away from dirty fossil fuels.
The effort to embrace clean power is taking place across the nation. While some states have chosen to fight the policy in the courts, utilities and local climate leaders are springing into action. By empowering utilities to make such changes, cities can help create well paying, stable jobs, they can help reduce energy bills for families and businesses, and can make their communities cleaner, healthier places to live. Become part of the solution and join Path to Positive Communities today!
Utilities Cut Coal Use Amid Clean Power Plan Fight
By Bobby Magill | Climate Central | March 4, 2016
Critics of the Obama administration’s most sweeping climate policy hailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in February to temporarily block it, saying the ruling on the Clean Power Plan could breathe new life into the flagging coal industry.
But even as those critics await further rulings on whether the plan is constitutional, utilities are already looking far beyond coal — the nation’s largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change — and pressing ahead with investments in cleaner forms of energy, including renewable, natural gas and even nuclear power.