A newly announced $700 million federal subsidy for old coal power plants in the United States has drawn sharp criticism from clean energy advocates. The decision stands in stark contrast to market realities: utility-scale solar and onshore wind are now among the cheapest sources of new electricity generation globally, frequently beating coal even without subsidies.
Why Does Coal Still Get Political Support?
What This Means for Solar and Clean Energy Globally
The broader takeaway is clear: coal subsidies can slow the energy transition in specific markets, but they cannot reverse the structural cost advantage that solar and wind now hold. Every dollar spent propping up an ageing coal plant is a dollar not invested in the grid infrastructure, battery storage, or PV capacity that will power the decades ahead.
Source: Why Would Someone Prefer Coal Power Over Solar & Wind? - CleanTechnica· Based on source, with AI-assisted rewriting.
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