Why exactly are US electric utilities abandoning coal for more expensive electricity generation?

In 2017, 76.2% of India’s electricity was generated by burning more coal. There are still 300 million people in India without electricity. India will burn more coal. US utilities that abandon coal are pointlessly opting for more expensive electricity.

Source: Web | PDF

DTE to shutter two coal plants by 2031

DTE CEO Gerard Anderson doesn’t care. He doesn’t care that: (1) the Clean Power Plan is being rolled back; (2) DTE’s emissions cuts are meaningless to the climate; and (3) it’s a lot more expensive to replace coal plants with combined cycle gas than to leave the the coal plants running, according to the 2018 National Council Report.

Sources: Climatewire Web (Subscription required) | DTE media release