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Electric Utilities

Nearly 40 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted in the United States comes from coal-fired power plants, which generate more than half the electricity produced in this country.

At this scale, carbon dioxide emissions from American power plants alone equal the total emissions of Russia and India combined – 10 percent of the world’s total. Nonetheless, coal companies are planning to build more than 150 new coal-fired power plants to meet growing demand, even as our climate crisis makes it clear that coal is not the answer. 

Coal is Not Clean
Coal companies are touting “clean coal” as a solution to their industry’s pollution levels, and while “clean” coal-burning technologies do remove nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and other pollutants, they do not significantly reduce CO2 emissions--doing nothing to mitigate coal’s climate change impact. Other coal industry solutions include plans to capture and sequester CO2 emissions, before pumping them underground for storage

This untested technology’s predicted success and cost-efficiency vary greatly, and is unlikely to be ready for widespread use for another ten years.  Out of the 150 proposed new coal-fired plants, only a handful have promised to use this technology.  Moreover, carbon capture and sequestration does nothing to prevent the many other social and environmental problems with coal, including:  mercury pollution in water, increased asthma rates and poor air quality, environmental devastation from mountaintop removal, toxic solid waste by-products, exploitation of Native communities, and more.

Renewables are the Answer
No coal is clean.  Quite simply, if we hope to curb climate change, our reliance on coal as an energy source must end. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar power can meet our energy needs without adding to the effects of climate change, and are ready now to be used at the scale we need to reduce US emissions to zero by the end of the century.

Wind and sunshine are abundant across the country, and the costs of wind and solar power have dropped dramatically in the last 20 years. Many utilities across the country now offer wind and solar options to consumers.  It’s time for all of us to stop using coal, and either sign up for renewable power with our energy companies, or even make our own.  See below to find out how.

LEARN MORE AND TAKE ACTION ...

• Even with the effects of global warming becoming clearer each day, the power company TXU is still planning to building 3 of 11 proposed CO2-emitting coal-fired power plants in Texas.  Check out Environmental Defense's "The Facts About TXU."

• Our Real Green article, “Climate Change and Your Power Company” shows you which utilities are still building coal plants, and tells you how to switch to green power.

• Our Green American issue, “The Promise of the Solar Future,” gives you the tools you need to go solar at home. 

• Get connected to local groups working to transition away from coal.  Find a group in your area and get involved.

• Use these pro-solar stickers to send a message to your utility. The stickers print on a standard sheet of 30 labels, so you can affix one to your payment coupon each time you pay your bill.