Thread by @EricLiptonNYT

SO JUST HOW HAD IS THE COAL SITUATION IN THE US, DESPITE TRUMP'S PROMISE? Let's look at some data. First off, coal production in the United States. It is tanking. Fastest decline DURING TRUMP since 1930s. Second fastest in US history. eia.gov/outlooks/steo/…

Here is coal production data back to 1856 to 1958. Only once before, during a SINGLE presidential term, has their been a faster decline in coal production in the U.S. than what we have seen with Trump.

What is driving this decline? Coal as a source of power production in the United States is in major decline. And the pace of that decline is accelerating. It will recover a bit next year, says EIA. But it is WAY down during Trump.

What else is declining rapidly during Trump? This one will surprise you. Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide, two of the worst sources of air pollution in the US, have rapidly decreased during Trump. IN SPITE of all his moves to help the coal industry. As power plants keep closing

To get a sense of how big of a deal this is--it is transformative event in US history--look at Tennessee Valley Authority, once one of biggest consumers of coal in the world, and how its use of coal as a share of power production has shifted. This shift ACCELERATED under Trump

Tried to convince my colleagues to include some of these graphics in the story. But here they are anyway.

This above data informs some of the reporting in this story. Please give the story a read. And a share. nytimes.com/2020/10/05/us/…