On June 15, 2015, Alliant Energy committed to phase out coal use at six of its plants in the state, marking the 200th coal plant to retire in the United States since 2010.
The retirement of 200 coal plants nationwide represents the phase out of nearly 40 percent of the 523 U.S. coal plants that were in operation just five years ago. The work of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign and more than 100 allied organizations to retire these plants and replace them with clean energy has enabled the United States to lead the industrialized world in cutting global warming pollution, and has put the White House on firm footing to push for a strong international climate accord in Paris at the end of this year.
As we make this transition to clean energy, it is essential to protect the livelihoods of workers and communities traditionally reliant on coal. The Sierra Club is working to advance these efforts through our Beyond Coal campaign, our Labor Program, and our federal policy advocacy.
The fight to move America beyond coal has many faces and many stories. Beyond Coal Campaign Director Mary Anne Hitt shares some of these stories in her latest blog post. Learn more about what this milestone means for real people in Iowa and communities all across America.
Retirement of the 200th #coal plant is milestone for many reasons. Click the pics to learn why, & retweet to share! pic.twitter.com/5uEx8X3E57
— Sierra Club (@sierraclub) July 15, 2015
What does it take to retire 200 polluting coal plants?
Watch our video to find out!
