China to Stop Building Coal Plants For Base Power Generation

China will no longer build new coal-fired power plants as main sources of electricity generation as the country works to reduce its reliance on the dirty fuel.

The nation will “on principle” stop building coal-power projects as base-load generators, the National Energy Administration said in a letter last week. The construction of some plants will still be allowed if they’re needed to help adjust or support power derived from renewable sources, which are subject to intermittency problems, or to ensure supply security.

The move is in line with China’s five-year development plan released last year, which pledged to “control the ...