US could save $78B by shutting down coal plants

42% of global coal capacity is already unprofitable because of high fuel costs; by 2040 that could reach 72% as existing CO2 pricing and air pollution regulations drive up costs while the price of onshore wind and solar power continues to fall; any future regulation would make coal power still more unprofitable.

It costs more to run 35% of coal power plants than to build new renewable generation; by 2030 building new renewables will be cheaper than continuing to operate 96% of today’s existing and planned coal plants.

China could save $389B by closing plants in line with the Paris Climate Agreement instead of pursuing business as usual plans; the EU could save $89B; the US could save $78B; and Russia could save $20B.

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