"Coal Is Dead: It's Time to Accept It"

"For years, coal supporters have been saying that a turnaround is just around the corner. China's demand is about to pick up, domestic environmental regulations will be struck down and we'll fire up coal plants again, or clean coal is here!

Let's face it: Coal is dead, and it's been a long time coming. Peabody, Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources, and others are just barely holding onto survival while reporting hundreds of millions in losses annually. But they'll eventually be scrapped for parts as the energy industry moves to cheaper forms of energy. Whether you accept it or not, that's the reality of coal in 2015.

Whether it's regulations, smog, or cost, there's no country that wants to build more coal power plants than it absolutely has to. That puts coal producers in a tough position, dealing with falling demand and competitors that are fighting over scraps of the coal market."

Travis Hoium reports for The Motley Fool April 11, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Joe Biden: Coal Is A Way Of Life" (National Journal)

Source: Motley Fool, 04/14/2015