Where Free Wind Meets Cheap Gas in U.S., Power Dynamics Changing
- Illinois could lose more than 10 percent of power capacity
- Exelon, Dynegy asking legislature to save aging plants
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For a snapshot of the woes of the U.S coal and nuclear industries, take a look at Illinois.
Following a four-year drop in electricity demand, power companies there announced the closing of coal and nuclear plants that account for more than 10 percent of generating capacity. The shutdowns come amid a fourfold increase in cheap wind from neighboring states and growing competition from generators burning low-cost natural gas.