Every day, Americans require electricity to power their lives. Heating, lights, electronics – all of these things require a stable source of power to ensure continued operation. And our need for this electricity is increasing every day. Coal, as one of America’s most abundant sources of domestic energy, provides an answer to this need.
Estimates say the United States holds 272 billion tons of coal reserves within its borders, and we currently use about 1.1 billion tons a year. That means that we have enough electricity from coal to power our country for more than two centuries .
So, the next time you turn on a light switch, or fire up your computer, think about the source of that electricity. It’s likely coal was part of that power.
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is committed to the idea that America can have the affordable, reliable electricity we need, with the clean environment we want. ACCCE’s Behind the Plug blog is the place for up-to-date news and analysis on clean coal technology developments and energy policy progress.