Bloomberg: Half of the coal plants in the United States are losing money

It's clear that U.
S.
coal plants are bogging down in a quagmire
.
A study released Monday showed that only half of coal plants were able to break
even last year.

According to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the grid could face drastic changes
as more uneconomical coal plants close.
The problem is particularly acute in Florida, Georgia and other parts of the Southeast, where distance from major coal mines drives up prices
.
The study began in 2012 to examine the monthly economic performance
of each operating U.
S.
coal plant.

Still, many coal plants manage to protect themselves from financial losses
.
The study found that in areas where regulators set interest rates, about 95 percent of coal plant operating expenses exceeded revenue
.
Instead of letting market forces dictate their fate, regulators and utilities often leave struggling power plants open to ensure the stability
of their grids.

Report authors William Nelson and Sophia Liu wrote: "We find ourselves struck
by the resilience of U.
S.
coal.
It is better to spend more money than replace to ensure the operation
of the power station.
”