text: Coal remains the lowest-cost fuel for electric generation and remains the mainstay of base load power in the U.S. and many countries. Access to affordable energy is essential in the U.S. at a time when 48 million Americans live in poverty and a record 115 million qualify for energy assistance. China and India will not forego low-cost coal for base load power in favor of high-cost, non-dispatchable electric generation from renewable energy sources.