Dive Brief:
- A 12% jump in natural gas prices since the beginning of December will cause utilities to burn more coal.
- Utilities have been burning more coal this year as gas prices have increased from lows in 2012.
Dive Insight:
With the general rise in natural gas prices, expect air pollution to increase as well as carbon emissions. Several of the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act rules are being challenged in court and the federal agency is preparing to release carbon standards for existing plants in June.
