China cuts plans to build new coal power plants

New York Times : On 25 April, China’s National Development and Reform Commission and its National Energy Administration released guidelines to halt the planned construction of about 200 coal power plants. Plants that are already under construction can be completed, but any project that has yet to be approved or begin construction has been canceled. Although the nixed plants would have added 105 GW to China’s power grid, the plants that are currently being constructed will add 190 GW. The announcement is part of China’s effort to cut its carbon emissions. China’s rapid economic growth has spurred construction of coal plants over the last decade. But during the recent slowdown, many current plants have been operating only 40–50% of the time. China has also begun promoting the construction of wind turbines and solar farms as nonpolluting alternatives to coal power.