Nope. Case in point - TVA, a federally-owned power company, completed construction on a 700+ megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired plant right next to the John Sevier coal-fired power plant. The plan was to retire the coal-fired plant (also around 700-750 megawatts) after the new gas plant was commissioned.
Well, guess what - the gas fired plant was commissioned and placed in service, and they still kept the coal-fired plant in service all summer long. Why? Because the power was needed.
Frankly, I think that the best thing utilities can do is de-commission these coal plants and replace them with rolling blackouts, particularly in blue areas where the environazis tend to congregate. Nothing teaches a lesson better then getting your own oxe gored by your own actions based on your own false beliefs.
They should. If energy companies weren't so stupid and would look at the long term picture instead.
When a plant shuts down they just import the energy from somewhere else and raise rates at few cents and go back to hoping the Liberals come for them last.
What they should do is black/brown out the rat infested cities. Let's see how enthusiastic these EPA bureaucrats and congress critters when the power goes out in DC, Phily, Baltimore, NYC around 3pm everyday and doesn't come back until late at night.