Rick Perry's coal rescue runs aground at White House

[muriel_volestrangler]

Energy Secretary Rick Perry has spent more than a year pushing various plans that would invoke national security to force power companies to keep their economically struggling coal plants running — a goal in line with Trump’s frequent pledges to revive what he calls “beautiful, clean coal.”

But the White House has shelved the plan amid opposition from the president’s own advisers on the National Security Council and National Economic Council, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions.
...
Perry’s proposals — which would also keep aging nuclear power plants operating — have riled up the oil and gas industry, which has prospered as inexpensive natural gas has increasingly eaten away at coal’s share of U.S. power markets. Other critics include consumer groups worried about rising power bills for customers, environmental organizations concerned about the threat to wind and solar power, and conservative policy organizations that oppose what they see as heavy-handed federal intervention in the economy.

“The problem they’ve got is every option they might consider raises the costs for somebody at a time when nobody has an appetite for increased costs anywhere,” said Bob Coward, co-leader of energy advisory firm MPR Associates, echoing what people with knowledge of the discussions told POLITICO. “I think that’s the problem they keep running into. The political will to pay for it is not broadly there enough yet for them.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/15/rick-perry-coal-rescue-trump-850528

Shame the given reasons weren't "IT FUCKING KILLS PEOPLE".

[Wounded Bear]

1. Coal is dying...

trying to prop it up is like playing Weekends at Bernie's.

[efhmc]

2. Good hair was supported and funded by oil and gas when he was Texas gov.

Odd. nt

[Marcuse]

3. Wondering about Sen. Manchin's position on this.