The need to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) regulations together with weak electricity demand growth and continued competition from generators fueled by natural gas have recently led several power producers to announce plans to retire coal-fired facilities.

Between 2012 and 2020, about 60 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity is projected to retire in the AEO2014 Reference case, which assumes implementation of the MATS standards, as well as other existing laws and regulations. The recently announced 5.4 gigawatts of retirements reflect particular strategies of coal plant operators and provide a view of some key drivers in coal plant retirement decisions.

via Planned coal-fired power plant retirements continue to increase – Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).