[ronald reagan]

The usable life of a coal unit is around 40 years. You don't learn that in the commercial end.

really?

The median age of existing coal plants in the U.S. is 46.5 years. Many plants are senior citizens....

1 IN Perry K Steam Plant Aug, 1938 72 GWh
2 WI Blount Street Station Dec, 1938 2,031 GWh
3 IA Sixth Street Generating Station Apr, 1940 321 GWh Retired 2010
4 NC Cliffside Plant (existing) Jul, 1940 4,336 GWh Retiring Units 1-4 in 2012
5 IA Dubuque Generating Station Jun, 1941 338 GWh Retired Unit 1 in 2010
6 NC Buck Steam Station Jul, 1941 1,847 GWh Retiring Units 3,4 in 2011
7 MN High Bridge Generating Plant Jan, 1942 939 GWh
8 IN Harding Street Station Apr, 1942 4,115 GWh
9 WI Pulliam Power Plant Jan, 1943 2,519 GWh
10 NY AES Westover Generation Plant Oct, 1943 496 GWh
11 OH Burger Plant Jan, 1944 1,297 GWh Retired Units 4,5 in 2010
12 WV Rivesville Power Station Jan, 1944 271 GWh
13 VA Glen Lyn Plant Jun, 1944 1,612 GWh Retiring Units 5,6 in 2014
14 IN Edwardsport Plant Jul, 1944 254 GWh Retiring Units 7,8 in 2011
15 NY Huntley Generating Station Jan, 1945 2,756 GWh
16 VA Potomac River Generating Station Oct, 1946 1,601 GWh Retiring in 2012
17 MD R. Paul Smith Power Station Jan, 1947 698 GWh
18 IL Havana Power Station Jul, 1947 3,460 GWh
19 KY Tyrone Generating Station Oct, 1947 429 GWh Retiring in 2016
20 IA Lansing Power Station Jan, 1948 1,724 GWh Retired Units 2,3 in 2010
21 PA Mitchell Plant Jan, 1948 952 GWh Retiring Unit 1 - year unknown
22 IL Meredosia Power Station Jun, 1948 1,952 GWh
23 OH Hutchings Station Jul, 1948 691 GWh
24 MI Cobb Generating Plant Sep, 1948 2,339 GWh
25 NY Russell Station Dec, 1948 1,315 GWh
26 KS Riverton Power Plant Jan, 1949 672 GWh
27 MN Riverside Generating Plant (Minnesota) Jan, 1949 2,344 GWh
28 IN Eagle Valley Station Feb, 1949 1,577 GWh
29 AL Gadsden Steam Plant Apr, 1949 539 GWh
30 MI Trenton Channel Power Plant May, 1949 3,388 GWh
31 WI Stoneman Generating Station May, 1949 66 GWh
32 PA Sunbury Steam Station Aug, 1949 1,910 GWh
33 NC Weatherspoon Plant Sep, 1949 1,018 GWh Retiring in 2017
34 IL Wood River Station Nov, 1949 3,041 GWh
35 OH Avon Lake Power Plant Dec, 1949 3,078 GWh
36 OH Miami Fort Station Dec, 1949 7,399 GWh

Consequently, the operating span of a coal fired power plant can be unlimited since any degraded or failed component can be replaced with a new one. (Wiki answers)

Do you ever tell the truth? How is the average lifespan 40 years, if the average age is 46.5? With some pushing 75? Six Street Generating plant was 89 years........

Do you need a teleprompter too? hh: