ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The United States is consuming less and less coal, even as President Donald Trump pledges time and time again to revive the dying industry. On the same day the U.S. Energy Information Administration said it expects U.S. coal consumption to continue its decline this year, the Trump administration teased an ‘energy policy announcement’ later this week that Pro’s Alex Guillén reports will propose easing carbon dioxide limits placed on newly built coal-fired power plants. EIA said Tuesday [12-4-18] it expects U.S. coal consumption to drop 4 percent in 2018, reaching its lowest level since 1979 and bringing with it the continued retirement of coal-fired plants. The report underscored how coal is being outpaced by increased competition from natural gas and renewables — potentially welcome news for Democrats on the Hill pushing a ‘Green New Deal’ and a shift to 100 percent renewable energy. The report could also raise uncomfortable questions for the president, who continues to call for a restoration of the coal industry and has pushed the Energy Department to bailout the ailing industry in the name of reliability and national security.”
–Kelsey Tamborinno, “Trump administration faces coal hard truth,” Politico, December 5, 2018 10:00 am