The Coal Renaissance

No matter what decisions we make here in America regarding how we use coal to generate electricity, there is no stopping its use in other parts of the world.

The New York Times makes that point perfectly today. Countries with long-dormant coal industries - like Japan and Britain - are beginning to ramp up coal production because of the high costs of other fuels.

That's why we need to be sure we keep putting dollars into funding clean coal technology research. We already export coal - and if we lead the way in creating and implementing the best ways to use it, we'll be exporting U.S. - developed technology as well.

The world's demand for coal won't subside, but with our help in developing cleaner ways to use it, the future will be brighter for everyone.

Comments

[carl johnson]

i dont know why we [usa] dont use our coal instead of shipping it to other countries. the environmental crazies and liberal political wack jobs need to be silenced on the lies and misinformation about global warming.the sun causes global warming not man; the discharce of solar heat is the only way the planet can be heated, and nothing man can create can generate that much heat.the sun is not regulated.therfore the cycle of solar heat is not constant.and does fluxuate in phases to create less heat in a certain period of time and more heat at certain times. the gravitational pull from the sun also has effected greater stress on the planet's crust causing more earthquakes eruptions and strange jet stream patterens

[Danny Kenny]

With gas prices going through the roof and oil companies making record profits. And OPEC raising price of oil. Why not nationalize the oil in this country. Other countries have done it. I have heard that we have enough oil in this country for the next 30 years. Are we suppose to believe the oil companies that we don't. Tell OPEC where to go with their prices. Nationalize the oil now.

[Glenn friedman]

One thing is for certain there sohould be no new NEW licenses for dirty coal plants.

[Frank Boler]

I just got a newsletter from kansas sentator Chris Steineger. He voted against coal plant expansion cause it did not have strict enough requieremnts to control emissions. Is he lying?

[William Malfaro]

Coal is King
You know it,
I know it,
and soon
everyone
will know it.
Green is Clean
but
Coal is King.
Truth.

[Cullen with ACCCE]

Hi Frank — thanks for your question.

It’s a fact that no power plant can be cited if it is shown that the emissions of that power plant would diminish air quality in a community to the point where pollution levels would pose a threat to human health and welfare. These standards are very stringent and as set at a level to protect human health with an added margin of safety.

Also, a power plant cannot be built without first demonstrating to the permitting authority that best “available” technology is being used. “Available” is the key word here, because the permit has to be based upon the technology available today. And, as technology advances, power plants are routinely retrofitted to capture even more emissions, including the capture and safe storage of carbon dioxide.

[Suzy]

Hi,

I like coal, but my Mom says its bad for us. Can you write her a letter telling her that she's wrong?

Thanks.

[David with ACCCE]

Hi Suzy. We're happy you're having this discussion with your mom. Take a look at this page:
http://www.americaspower.org/Issues-Policy/
Half of our electricity comes from coal, coal is our most abundant fuel... and we are committed to making coal a clean energy source. Let us know how your conversation goes!

[Kendall]

The Coal Renaissance you mention is the signs of the growing concerns over the looming energy crisis. Uranium and oil production have or are nearing it's peak in global production. However the alternatives for oils replacement is years or decades away. How can coal mitigate the effects of global peak oil?

[Diann Goney]

coal companies should not be allowed to own land owners mineral rights, and here is something new thay have come up with. instead of buying large tracts of land that they own the mineral rights to, when the land becomes available on the market, they are buying surface rights from these land companies,then whoever buys the land is stuck with not being able to buy the surface rights back and not being able to use their land, because if they build a fence, house, pond it can all be torn down, and dug up by the coal company to get at the coal, gas, sand, rocks or whatever mineral they so choose.

[Peter]

Nationalize our oil companies? Come on. Our biggest oil company is ExxonMobil. It is number #17 in the world. In France gasoline is $11 per gal. Mexico's oil production is nationalized, corrupt, and being highly inefficient,is falling behind in every way. Want to really know what nationalization is like: try prison!

[Marc]

Carl Johnson, you are right in saying that the sun is not regulated. However, the electromagnetic waves from the sun, which transfer heat to the surface of Earth, are regulated by gases in our atmosphere. By the depletion of certain gases and by the increase of some others some electromagnetic waves are able to penetrate the atmosphere that never have before, and some are trapped in it that have never been before. That is causing the surface of Earth to have more heat. Also, changes in our distance to the sun make no detectable difference in the temperature of Earth because those changes are so miniscule in cosmic terms. If the sun's gravitational effect on the earth's crust was that significant then it would probably take over the moon's role of causing the tides or, at least, alter it drastically. Don't take my word for any of this, though. Research is gold compared to some dude's opinion on the internet. For starters, there is a clear, scientifically reasonable, and fairly objective book on astronomy that covers most issues related to our planet and most others called The Essential Cosmic Perspective by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit that I would recommend.

[Mudduck]

The myopic view the supporters of coal go beyond the pale.
The garbage spewed into the air is nothing moe than a chemical cocktail.
There is NO such animal as clean coal.
www.pushback.com

[Bob R]

I have been following the development of the ThermoEnergy Integrated Power System (TIPS)for several years.

Recently, Babcock Power announced its intentions to go forward with a demo TIPS plant.(no formal JV yet)

The claims for TIPS are zero air emissions, burns any carbon fuel including biomass,
captures co2 and is cheaper and more efficient than igcc . It can also be used to retro fit exiting plants.

In todays energy environment it's difficult to understand why DOE has not been providing
major funding.

TIPS appears to be a strong contender for the model for clean coal.

[Clara]

I was looking into heating with coal and have some concerns about the pollution.

Also, it seems difficult to find coal to burn in the old coal stoves in Northern colorado