Trump declares end to 'war on coal,' but utilities aren't listening WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - When President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to sweep away Obama-era climate change regulations, he said it would end America’s “war on coal”, usher in a new era of energy production and put miners back to work.  But the biggest consumers of U.S. coal - power generating companies - remain unconvinced.  Reuters surveyed 32 utilities with operations in the 26 states that sued former President Barack Obama’s administration to block its Clean Power Plan, the main target of Trump’s executive order. The bulk of them have no plans to alter their multi-billion dollar, years-long shift away from coal, suggesting demand for the fuel will keep falling despite Trump’s efforts.  The utilities gave many reasons, mainly economic: Natural gas - coal’s top competitor - is cheap and abundant; solar and wind power costs are falling; state environmental laws remain in place; and Trump’s regulatory rollback may not survive legal challenges.  Meanwhile, big investors aligned with the global push to fight climate change – such as the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund – have been pressuring U.S. utilities in which they own stakes to cut coal use.  “I’m not going to build new coal plants in today’s environment,” said Ben Fowke, CEO of Xcel Energy, which operates in eight states and uses coal for about 36 percent of its electricity production. “And if I’m not going to build new ones, eventually there won’t be any.”  REUTERS RECOMMENDSWindow closing for Republican stealth assault on regulationsAfter Australian cyclone, coking coal spikes as China chases U.S. supplies Of the 32 utilities contacted by Reuters, 20 said Trump’s order would have no impact on their investment plans; five said they were reviewing the implications of the order; six gave no response. Just one said it would prolong the life of some of its older coal-fired power units.  North Dakota’s Basin Electric Power Cooperative was the sole utility to identify an immediate positive impact of Trump’s order on the outlook for coal.  “We’re in the situation where the executive order takes a lot of pressure off the decisions we had to make in the near term, such as whether to retrofit and retire older coal plants,” said Dale Niezwaag, a spokesman for Basin Electric. “But Trump can be a one-termer, so the reprieve out there is short.”  Trump’s executive order triggered a review aimed at killing the Clean Power Plan. The Obama-era law would have required states, by 2030, to collectively cut carbon emissions from existing power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels. It was designed as a primary strategy in U.S. efforts to fight global climate change.  The U.S. coal industry, without increases in domestic demand, would need to rely on export markets for growth. Shipments of U.S. metallurgical coal, used in the production of steel, have recently shown up in China following a two-year hiatus - in part to offset banned shipments from North Korea and temporary delays from cyclone-hit Australian producers.  Coal had been the primary fuel source for U.S. power plants for the last century, but its use has fallen more than a third since 2008 after advancements in drilling technology unlocked new reserves of natural gas.  Hundreds of aging coal-fired power plants have been retired or retrofitted. Huge coal mining companies like Peabody Energy Corp and Arch Coal fell into bankruptcy, and production last year hit its lowest point since 1978.  The slide appears likely to continue: U.S. power companies now expect to retire or convert more than 8,000 megawatts of coal-fired plants in 2017 after shutting almost 13,000 MW last year, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration and Thomson Reuters data.  Luke Popovich, a spokesman for the National Mining Association, acknowledged Trump’s efforts would not return the coal industry to its “glory days,” but offered some hope.  “There may not be immediate plans for utilities to bring on more coal, but the future is always uncertain in this market,” he said.  Many of the companies in the Reuters survey said they had been focused on reducing carbon emissions for a decade or more and were hesitant to change direction based on shifting political winds in Washington D.C.  “Utility planning typically takes place over much longer periods than presidential terms of office,” Berkshire Hathaway Inc-owned Pacificorp spokesman Tom Gauntt said.  Several utilities also cited falling costs for wind and solar power, which are now often as cheap as coal or natural gas, thanks in part to government subsidies for renewable energy.  In the meantime, activist investors have increased pressure on U.S. utilities to shun coal.  In the last year, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, has excluded more than a dozen U.S. power companies - including Xcel, American Electric Power Co Inc and NRG Energy Inc - from its investments because of their reliance on coal-fired power.  Another eight companies, including Southern Co and NorthWestern Corp, are “under observation” by the fund.  Wyoming-based coal miner Cloud Peak Energy said it doesn’t blame utilities for being lukewarm to Trump’s order.  "For eight years, if you were a utility running coal, you got the hell kicked out of you," said Richard Reavey, a spokesman for the company. "Are you going to turn around tomorrow and say, 'Let's buy lots of coal plants'? Pretty unlikely."  politicsNews
trump declares end coal utilities listening york reuters when president donald trump signed executive order last week sweep away climate change regulations said would end america war coal usher new era energy production put miners back work but biggest consumers coal power generating companies remain unconvinced reuters surveyed utilities operations states sued former president barack obama administration block clean power plan main target trump executive order the bulk plans alter dollar shift away coal suggesting demand fuel keep falling despite trump efforts the utilities gave many reasons mainly economic natural gas coal top competitor cheap abundant solar wind power costs falling state environmental laws remain place trump regulatory rollback may survive legal challenges meanwhile big investors aligned global push fight climate change norwegian sovereign wealth fund pressing utilities stakes cut coal use i going build new coal plants today environment said ben force ceo cel energy operates eight states uses coal percent electricity production and i going build new ones eventually reuters recommendswindow closing republican stealth assault regulationsafter australian cyclone coming coal spikes china chases supplies of utilities contacted reuters said trump order would impact investment plans five said reviewing implications order six gave response just one said would prolong life older power units north dakota basin electric power cooperative sole utility identify immediate positive impact trump order outlook coal we situation executive order takes lot pressure decisions make near term whether detroit retire older coal plants said dale niezwaag spokesman basin electric but trump reprieve trump executive order triggered review aimed killing clean power plan the law would required states collectively cut carbon emissions existing power plants percent levels it designed primary strategy efforts fight global climate change the coal industry without increases domestic demand would need rely export markets growth shipments metallurgical coal used production steel recently shown china following hiatus part offset banned shipments north korea temporary delays australian producers coal primary fuel source power plants last century use fallen third since advancements drilling technology unlocked new reserves natural gas hundreds aging power plants retired retrofitted huge coal mining companies like parody energy corp arch coal fell bankruptcy production last year hit lowest point since the slide appears likely continue power companies expect retire convert megawatts plants shutting almost mw last year according energy information administration thomson reuters data luke popovich spokesman national mining association acknowledged trump efforts would return coal industry glory days offered hope there may immediate plans utilities bring coal future always uncertain market said many companies reuters survey said focused reducing carbon emissions decade hesitant change direction based shifting political winds washington utility planning typically takes place much longer periods presidential terms office berkshire pathway pacificorp spokesman tom aunt said several utilities also cited falling costs wind solar power often cheap coal natural gas thanks part government subsidies renewable energy in meantime activist investors increased pressure utilities shun coal in last year norway sovereign wealth fund world largest excluded dozen power companies including cel american electric power co inc nrg energy inc investments reliance power another eight companies including southern co northwestern corp observation fund coal miner cloud peak energy said blame utilities lukewarm trump order for eight years utility running coal got hell kicked said richard really spokesman company are going turn around tomorrow say buy lots coal plants pretty unlikely politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump declares end to 'war on coal,' but utilities aren't listening WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - When President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to sweep away Obama-era climate change regulations, he said it would end America’s “war on coal”, usher in a new era of energy production and put miners back to work.  But the biggest consumers of U.S. coal - power generating companies - remain unconvinced.  Reuters surveyed 32 utilities with operations in the 26 states that sued former President Barack Obama’s administration to block its Clean Power Plan, the main target of Trump’s executive order. The bulk of them have no plans to alter their multi-billion dollar, years-long shift away from coal, suggesting demand for the fuel will keep falling despite Trump’s efforts.  The utilities gave many reasons, mainly economic: Natural gas - coal’s top competitor - is cheap and abundant; solar and wind power costs are falling; state environmental laws remain in place; and Trump’s regulatory rollback may not survive legal challenges.  Meanwhile, big investors aligned with the global push to fight climate change – such as the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund – have been pressuring U.S. utilities in which they own stakes to cut coal use.  “I’m not going to build new coal plants in today’s environment,” said Ben Fowke, CEO of Xcel Energy, which operates in eight states and uses coal for about 36 percent of its electricity production. “And if I’m not going to build new ones, eventually there won’t be any.”  REUTERS RECOMMENDSWindow closing for Republican stealth assault on regulationsAfter Australian cyclone, coking coal spikes as China chases U.S. supplies Of the 32 utilities contacted by Reuters, 20 said Trump’s order would have no impact on their investment plans; five said they were reviewing the implications of the order; six gave no response. Just one said it would prolong the life of some of its older coal-fired power units.  North Dakota’s Basin Electric Power Cooperative was the sole utility to identify an immediate positive impact of Trump’s order on the outlook for coal.  “We’re in the situation where the executive order takes a lot of pressure off the decisions we had to make in the near term, such as whether to retrofit and retire older coal plants,” said Dale Niezwaag, a spokesman for Basin Electric. “But Trump can be a one-termer, so the reprieve out there is short.”  Trump’s executive order triggered a review aimed at killing the Clean Power Plan. The Obama-era law would have required states, by 2030, to collectively cut carbon emissions from existing power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels. It was designed as a primary strategy in U.S. efforts to fight global climate change.  The U.S. coal industry, without increases in domestic demand, would need to rely on export markets for growth. Shipments of U.S. metallurgical coal, used in the production of steel, have recently shown up in China following a two-year hiatus - in part to offset banned shipments from North Korea and temporary delays from cyclone-hit Australian producers.  Coal had been the primary fuel source for U.S. power plants for the last century, but its use has fallen more than a third since 2008 after advancements in drilling technology unlocked new reserves of natural gas.  Hundreds of aging coal-fired power plants have been retired or retrofitted. Huge coal mining companies like Peabody Energy Corp and Arch Coal fell into bankruptcy, and production last year hit its lowest point since 1978.  The slide appears likely to continue: U.S. power companies now expect to retire or convert more than 8,000 megawatts of coal-fired plants in 2017 after shutting almost 13,000 MW last year, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration and Thomson Reuters data.  Luke Popovich, a spokesman for the National Mining Association, acknowledged Trump’s efforts would not return the coal industry to its “glory days,” but offered some hope.  “There may not be immediate plans for utilities to bring on more coal, but the future is always uncertain in this market,” he said.  Many of the companies in the Reuters survey said they had been focused on reducing carbon emissions for a decade or more and were hesitant to change direction based on shifting political winds in Washington D.C.  “Utility planning typically takes place over much longer periods than presidential terms of office,” Berkshire Hathaway Inc-owned Pacificorp spokesman Tom Gauntt said.  Several utilities also cited falling costs for wind and solar power, which are now often as cheap as coal or natural gas, thanks in part to government subsidies for renewable energy.  In the meantime, activist investors have increased pressure on U.S. utilities to shun coal.  In the last year, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, has excluded more than a dozen U.S. power companies - including Xcel, American Electric Power Co Inc and NRG Energy Inc - from its investments because of their reliance on coal-fired power.  Another eight companies, including Southern Co and NorthWestern Corp, are “under observation” by the fund.  Wyoming-based coal miner Cloud Peak Energy said it doesn’t blame utilities for being lukewarm to Trump’s order.  "For eight years, if you were a utility running coal, you got the hell kicked out of you," said Richard Reavey, a spokesman for the company. "Are you going to turn around tomorrow and say, 'Let's buy lots of coal plants'? Pretty unlikely."  politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump declares end coal utilities listening york reuters when president donald trump signed executive order last week sweep away climate change regulations said would end america war coal usher new era energy production put miners back work but biggest consumers coal power generating companies remain unconvinced reuters surveyed utilities operations states sued former president barack obama administration block clean power plan main target trump executive order the bulk plans alter dollar shift away coal suggesting demand fuel keep falling despite trump efforts the utilities gave many reasons mainly economic natural gas coal top competitor cheap abundant solar wind power costs falling state environmental laws remain place trump regulatory rollback may survive legal challenges meanwhile big investors aligned global push fight climate change norwegian sovereign wealth fund pressing utilities stakes cut coal use i going build new coal plants today environment said ben force ceo cel energy operates eight states uses coal percent electricity production and i going build new ones eventually reuters recommendswindow closing republican stealth assault regulationsafter australian cyclone coming coal spikes china chases supplies of utilities contacted reuters said trump order would impact investment plans five said reviewing implications order six gave response just one said would prolong life older power units north dakota basin electric power cooperative sole utility identify immediate positive impact trump order outlook coal we situation executive order takes lot pressure decisions make near term whether detroit retire older coal plants said dale niezwaag spokesman basin electric but trump reprieve trump executive order triggered review aimed killing clean power plan the law would required states collectively cut carbon emissions existing power plants percent levels it designed primary strategy efforts fight global climate change the coal industry without increases domestic demand would need rely export markets growth shipments metallurgical coal used production steel recently shown china following hiatus part offset banned shipments north korea temporary delays australian producers coal primary fuel source power plants last century use fallen third since advancements drilling technology unlocked new reserves natural gas hundreds aging power plants retired retrofitted huge coal mining companies like parody energy corp arch coal fell bankruptcy production last year hit lowest point since the slide appears likely continue power companies expect retire convert megawatts plants shutting almost mw last year according energy information administration thomson reuters data luke popovich spokesman national mining association acknowledged trump efforts would return coal industry glory days offered hope there may immediate plans utilities bring coal future always uncertain market said many companies reuters survey said focused reducing carbon emissions decade hesitant change direction based shifting political winds washington utility planning typically takes place much longer periods presidential terms office berkshire pathway pacificorp spokesman tom aunt said several utilities also cited falling costs wind solar power often cheap coal natural gas thanks part government subsidies renewable energy in meantime activist investors increased pressure utilities shun coal in last year norway sovereign wealth fund world largest excluded dozen power companies including cel american electric power co inc nrg energy inc investments reliance power another eight companies including southern co northwestern corp observation fund coal miner cloud peak energy said blame utilities lukewarm trump order for eight years utility running coal got hell kicked said richard really spokesman company are going turn around tomorrow say buy lots coal plants pretty unlikely politicsnews