Of course all of this is before President Trump and MAGA and his effort to roll back regulation that has decimated coal production n America.
it’s a decade long trend.
“Does this data reflect worldwide government regulation designed to kill coal under the guise of climate change? Is it market forces at play such as cheap natural gas? Maybe it is the world’s weak economy causing demand for electricity to decline? Perhaps a combination of all the above?”
It is mainly cheaper, cleaner sources of power displacing coal. That is a good thing! I understand the political motivation of DJT supporting coal, but coal mining is not a good way of life, and the sooner those doing it can learn a new skill and do something else, the better.
Another factor is that China is backing away from coal as a power source due to its severe pollution problem, as well as the fact that it has overbuilt power generation.
Personally, I hope the various companies working on safe, clean next-generation nuclear power plants have success. If done correctly that should result in reliable electricity costing five cents or less per KWH.
All use of energy is dropping globally, its not because of any green policy or the use of alternative sources, its because the Global Economy is in a recession, if not a full blown DEPRESSION! Due to governments around the worlds demanded for ever increasing amounts of tax money.