..from the attached article...
------------------
There Are Better Ways to Meet US Power Demand
More coal is not the answer to today's energy challenges. What the U.S. needs to keep prices down, meet rising demand and stay competitive on a global scale is: 1) to build wind, solar and batteries rapidly now, because they are the quickest to install and least expensive source of energy in many regions; and 2) to scale up clean, firm power — a variety of low-carbon sources, including next-generation geothermal, nuclear and hydropower, that can operate around the clock.
Investing in clean energy today makes good financial sense. The cost of building new renewables can be less than operating coal; indeed, research has shown that the majority of U.S. coal plants would be more expensive to continue running than to replace with local wind or solar. Scaling these sources will also be key to supporting the administration's goal of "energy dominance" in a world that's increasingly investing in renewables.
Despite current headwinds, including the early phase-out of key federal tax credits, U.S. wind and solar are still expected to grow in the coming years. In its latest energy infrastructure report, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission forecasts that the U.S. will add 92.6 gigawatts (GW) of new solar and 22.6 GW of new wind between August 2025 and July 2028 — enough to power more than 25 million homes. It also forecasts that no new coal will be built over this period, while 25 GW of existing coal capacity and 13.7 GW of natural gas capacity are set to retire.
There are also opportunities to ramp up investment in clean power sources beyond wind and solar and to increase the efficiency of the grid. Technologies such as nuclear and advanced geothermal already benefit from bipartisan support in Congress and could potentially represent a significant percentage of the country's future energy mix. In addition, new transmission technologies can help modernize the aging grid and increase its efficiency, helping to move more power along existing lines and accommodate rapidly growing demand.
Now is the time to make smart, forward-looking investments in energy that's safe, affordable, reliable and abundant — rather than clinging to systems of the past that will raise costs for consumers.
----------------
Bottom Line...Utilities are not going to commit capital to new coal plants for grid level power when advanced GEN-IV Nuclear Plant technology is due to arrive in 4-5 yrs. Baron is a MAGA...ergo, he avoids data, facts and reason.
BTW...It was the Biden admin that started and funded the project to find more rare earth minerals...as always, Trump takes credit for stuff he didn't have anything to do with.
Link: https://www.wri.org/insights/trump-coal-plant-extension-cost-impacts