China Conflicted Over Coal-Fired Power

China has promised big steps to cut pollution from coal-fired power plants, but recent measures have left the moves' progress in doubt. On Dec. 2, the State Council, or cabinet, announced ambitious plans to upgrade coal-fired generators and reduce pollutants by 60 percent before 2020. The changes would save some 100 million tons of raw coal and 180 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, the official Xinhua news agency said. The government also promised to close all plants that fail to meet energy-saving standards by 2020. Read more