According to a report released last week by Navigant & Ceres, "U.S. coal faces an array of challenges this decade. New U.S. EPA regulations to cut emissions of haze and ozone-causing nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury and other pollutants are expected to force the retirement of about one-quarter of U.S. coal plants by 2015."

The report identifies coal plants in the 30 year old range as most likely to shutter. Austin's coal plants fired up in +/- 1980. The New York Times article goes on to say:  "Even in the absence of climate legislation, EPA and state regulations could lead to 45 gigawatts of coal-fired power generation being retired by 2020."

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