NY plans to phase out coal power plants by 2020

NEW YORK, May 12 (Reuters): New York environmental regulators adopted rules to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that will force generators to stop burning coal in the state by the end of 2020.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has been highly critical of US President Donald Trump's support for the coal industry, said in a statement on Thursday that state's new carbon reduction rules would deliver on his 2016 pledge to go coal-free by 2020.

"As our federal government continues to support the dying fossil fuel industry, deny climate change, and roll back environmental protections, New York is leading the nation with bold climate action to protect our planet and our communities," Cuomo said.

Coal generated less than 1.0 per cent of the electricity in New York in 2017, the most recent year available according to state and federal data.