Dive Summary:

• Experts predict 24.5 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired capacity will be shut-down nationwide between now and 2015 resulting in less competition, an upward-tipping demand on capacity and higher profit for the remaining coal plants.
• Reduced coal operations for some companies is a buying opportunity for others such as Energy Capital Partners, a private-equity firm that recently purchased three coal-power plants providing 4.1 GW of capacity from Dominion Resources.
• With the demand for coal dipping by a fifth since 2007, Ameren sold off 4.1 GW of coal-fired capacity to Dynegy in a no-cash buy that will earn Dynegy about $200 million a year.

From the article:

“Is the era of U.S. coal-fired power in its sunset years? Yes, but it is far from over. And the power sector's notorious cyclicality remains very much alive, as does the chance to profit from it with the right timing.”