The World

Kicking Coal

Amid emerging regulations on CO2 emissions, state governors pushing alternative energy and power companies pulling the plug on new coal plants, old King Coal may be forced to retire.

Plans for some 150 new coal-fired power plants have bitten the dust as uncertainty grows about how to handle coal’s emissions. Now the Obama administration adds to coal’s woes with steps to regulate mercury, fly ash and greenhouse gases from coal plants. Living on Earth’s Jeff Young reports.