In 2017, sustainable energy has become “the new normal” in America, and coal power continues slipping away. Coal production slightly increased in 2017, as did coal prices. But that’s not because more Americans are using coal energy. Instead, American coal has become more valuable for its metallurgical properties in China. Coal energy production is facing something of a crisis in 2018, with almost 15 gigawatts of generation capacity expected to be retired this year. These retirements occur for a variety of reasons, from shifting regional priorities to a plant’s old age.