In many cases the best solution would be to retrofit the existing facilities and leverage the transmission infrastructure that is already in place. Retrofit doesn't necessarily mean we continue to burn coal, but it might. Without the aid of a time machine, continuing to burn coal (or even restarting a plant) for a limited period of time may have less incremental impact than other options.

I understand the urge to tear these facilities down, but if we actually care about the environment a more nuanced path is probably ideal.

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/over-100-coal...