New Indian coal power plants planned despite climate risk: Report

Draft electricity policy shows India considering coal due to it being the ‘cheapest source of generation’: Reuters.

India may build new coal-fired power plants as they generate the cheapest power, according to a draft electricity policy document seen by the Reuters news agency, despite growing calls from environmentalists to reduce the use of coal. Coal’s contribution to electricity generation in India fell for the second straight year in 2020, marking a departure from decades of growth in coal-fired power. Still, the fuel accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s annual power output. Environmental activists have long railed against India adding new coal-fired electricity generation capacity. Solar and wind energy prices are falling to record lows, which would help the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter cut emissions.