New report predicts higher energy bills

We generate electricity from coal at one-third the cost of other fuels. That’s more important now than ever before, given that the federal government estimates that electricity prices will continue to climb to their highest levels.

A report released this week by the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that due mostly to skyrocketing natural gas prices, average electricity rates will climb an average of 9.8 percent in 2009. (See news story.)

As you can see, we can’t afford to take any energy source off the table, for risk of creating even more demand for natural gas, which would drive up the price further.

Natural gas is a great fuel, but the primary use for natural gas in this country is for residential heating and industrial processes. And the more that we use natural gas as a fuel for electricity generation, we end up driving up the cost of natural gas in those other sectors — as well as paying higher prices for electricity. It’s like a double-whammy. 

In this country, coal is used only to generate electricity. It’s uniquely positioned to do that. And it’s our most affordable option, and thanks to technology … getting cleaner everyday. 

Comments

[Joe V]

How clean is it for Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky counties ravaged by mountaintop removal?

[David with ACCCE]

This term is a misnomer since it is not a matter of blowing the tops off mountains. It involves removing the "overburden" to expose a coal seam on a hill, mining that coal, and then putting that land either back to its original contour or to some agreed-upon beneficial use. There are new regulations that carefully outline what can and cannot be done.

In some cases, post-mining practices have taken land that was otherwise usable and allowed it to be developed into schools, hospitals, regional medical centers, shopping malls, and agricultural land.

In any case, we need to put this into context, because there is a misconception of how much of this is going on. The big issue we’re talking about here is what some people call "mountaintop mining," which accounts for less than 10 percent of the coal produced in America — and we’re able to make that percentage smaller each year.

[craig]

why doesnt california use more coal for energy?