coal

ChatGPT generated a panoramic split image contrasting China’s vast solar farms and HVDC lines with the U.S.’s coal power plant, flags marking two divergent energy paths

Two Energy Paths: China Locks In Renewables, U.S. Clings To Coal

China’s coal consumption dropped by about 2.6% in the first six months of 2025 while electricity demand rose roughly 5% compared with the same period in 2024. That means China added solar and wind capacity fast enough to cover new demand and then some. U.S. coal fired electricity jumped 14% … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic aerial image showing Lower Manhattan fading into a ghosted oil field, symbolizing Wall Street’s retreat from fossil fuel investments

U.S. Banks Slash Fossil Fuel Financing As Market Forces Outweigh Politics

Wall Street’s six largest banks have cut their financing to oil, gas and coal projects by 25% year-on-year through August 1, 2025. In dollar terms, that means about $73 billion this year versus roughly $97 billion in the same period in 2024. The pullback is uneven. Morgan Stanley reduced its … [continued]

Even a candle is better than nothing. (Photo by Manoj Roy, Unsplash)

Make America Gaslit Again

When I was a kid, my grandmother’s house in New Hampshire was always ready for the electricity to go down. The kitchen range was wood-fired, though there was a newer kerosene alternative (horrible). There were two sconces in every bathroom, each with an oil (kerosene) lamp. About half the house … [continued]

Photo by Chris Münch on Unsplash

Reclaiming Coal Country: 300 GW Solar Goldmine From Coal Mine Conversions

In a landmark report released this month, Global Energy Monitor reveals that converting recently closed and soon-to-be-retired coal mines into solar farms could boost global solar capacity by nearly 300 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 — a 15% increase over today’s total installed solar base. The report, titled “Bright Side of … [continued]

ChatGPT generated this panoramic image to illustrate Poland’s transportation energy challenge—dense urban traffic in Warsaw highlighting the urgent need for electrification

From Coal Dominance To Renewables: How Poland Changed Its Energy Story

Poland’s energy story is both a cautionary tale and an inspiring narrative about how a nation heavily dependent on coal has managed to diversify its energy mix significantly within just a few decades. Back in 1990, Poland was essentially synonymous with coal energy, relying on it for nearly three-quarters of … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic aerial image of a major Chinese city skyline filled with rooftop solar installations

China’s Coal Generation Dropped 5% YOY In Q1 As Electricity Demand Increased

China’s coal-fired electricity generation took an unexpectedly sharp turn downward in the first quarter of 2025, signaling a potentially profound shift in the world’s largest coal-consuming economy. This wasn’t merely a seasonal dip or economic distress signal; rather, it represented a clear and structural turning point. Coal generation fell by … [continued]