In the words of the president, the so-called “war on coal” is over. One could get that impression on news that coal production ticked up the first quarter, thanks to a cold winter boosting business for all energy. But long-term rival fuels like natural gas and renewables are pushing coal out of the market. And yet this administration seems to have a special thing for coal. Two agency heads have recently been drumming up support for coal by raising concerns about its alternatives — concerns that market watchers and experts don’t necessarily share.

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