Should coal plants be shut down despite higher costs?
Coal plants have been the backbone of our grid for decades, but the latest data on particulate matter and mercury emissions makes me wonder if we're underestimating their true cost. I've seen communities near these plants with asthma rates double the national average, and that's not just a statistic—it's a pattern. Should we prioritize shutting down coal plants even if it means higher electricity bills in the short term?