While other factors, including a sluggish U.S. economy and increasing energy efficiency, have contributed to the decline in carbon emissions from factories, automobiles and power plants, many experts believe the switch from coal to natural gas for electricity generation has been the biggest factor.
High installation costs have been the biggest inhibiting factor to the adoption of solar energy in the past, with traditional energy sources like coal and oil being a more cost effective solution.
The primary factor in the decline in stock price for the two firms was the weak demand for coal freight services, a trend which will affect CSX in Q4 2012 and will likely to do so over the next few quarters.
As China increases its power production by a factor of four over the next 20 years, that means it will need to add more coal plants to meet its goals and electricity demand.