EPIC! Trump Brings Coal Miners to Executive Order Rescuing Coal Industry from Liberal Politicians

Electric utilities dispatch power based on the cost of the fuel. The amount of power needed by the grid varies throughout the day and throughout the year. Fifteen years ago (to pick an arbitrary interval), the first choice (cheapest) was hydro-power, which has limited availability, of course. The next choice was nuclear power, the third choice was coal, and the last source to be brought on line was natural gas. This sequence was typical, although there could be regional differences.

These days, hydro remains the first choice and still has limited availability. Natural gas plants, I hate to admit, are the next to come on line. Nuclear plants are the third choice, and coal is the last choice. Renewables (yes, hydro is a renewable, and I can argue that nuclear power is as well) are brought on line early in the sequence, but their costs are distorted by politically-motivated subsidies.

As far as electricity production is concerned, natural gas is the preferred choice over coal these days due to its low cost.

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