H1 1/10 of U.S. coal capacity is shipped to coal-fired power plants that plan to be phased out

According to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, more than 10 percent of coal mined from eight U.
S.
regions in the first half of 2018 was sent to coal-fired power plants
scheduled to retire this year through 2032.
The trend is another troubling sign
for the troubled coal industry.

The Trump administration released its analysis on Sept.
7, two weeks after announcing changes to emissions regulations, aimed at keeping coal-fired power plants running longer
.
The government has made the coal industry a priority and is guided
by the importance of coal power generation to national security.

The report also said more than 6 percent of the coal mined in the U.
S.
in 2017 was delivered to power plants
scheduled to shut down within the next decade.
The information comes from Standard & Poor's Global Market Intelligence analyzing coal production and fuel delivery data
.

S&P said the U.
S.
produced only 330 million tonnes of coal in the first half of the year, with at least 33.
6 million tonnes going to coal-fired power plants
scheduled for closure in 2032.
The report also said that less than 6 million tons
of coal was sent to coal-fired power plants scheduled to close by the end of the year last year.
Another 11.
8 million tonnes will be used for coal-fired power plants
scheduled to retire in 2019.

The analysis shows that 10.
4 million tonnes delivered in 2017 were used for coal-fired power plants
scheduled to close by 2022.
The report said 8 million tonnes
of coal was delivered in 2017 to coal-fired power plants scheduled for closure in 2025.

Powder River Basin, mainly Wyoming, is the largest producer of coal sent to planned phase-out plants, with at least 17.
8 million mt of coal sent to plants scheduled to retire, accounting for 11.
3 percent
of the basin's total output in the first half of 2018, Standard & Poor's said.

The report said 64.
2 percent of the coal capacity produced in the region of the southwestern United States, which includes parts of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, was delivered to coal-fired power plants
with set retirement dates, the report said.