- Trump’s EPA rollbacks target emissions regulations for coal plants
- 15 U.S. carbon capture facilities manage under 1% of national CO2 output
- Coal-related pollution linked to $100B annual U.S. healthcare costs
- Renewables now outpace coal in 38 states for energy generation
President Trump’s recent push for expanded coal production reignites decades-old debates about so-called 'clean coal' technologies. While the administration claims deregulation will revive the industry, data reveals coal-fired power plants remain the nation’s largest industrial source of toxic water pollution and third-largest greenhouse gas emitter.
The Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo, Colorado exemplifies these challenges. Despite $12 million in emissions control upgrades, this Xcel Energy plant still released 8.7 million tons of CO2 in 2022 – equivalent to 1.9 million gasoline-powered vehicles. Local health departments report asthma rates 23% higher than state averages within 10 miles of the facility.
Energy Innovation analysis shows existing carbon capture technologies require 30-40% more energy per coal plant, making electricity production costs noncompetitive with natural gas and solar alternatives. This economic reality explains why 173 coal units have retired since 2012, while wind industry employment grew 84% during the same period.
New EPA models suggest full implementation of current carbon capture systems would only reduce coal’s greenhouse emissions by 18-24% – far short of climate targets. Meanwhile, innovative battery storage solutions now enable renewable energy plants to deliver 90% consistent output parity with traditional baseload power sources.
