1. Coal
Larenz Devaren

2. Introduction to Coal
Clean Coal Technology
Economic Challenges
Questions / Discussion
Citations

3. Introduction to Coal
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal
That is only a tiny fraction of the 257 billion tons of coal in United States recoverable reserves
More than 25% of the world’s total coal reserves are located in the United States

4. Introduction to Coal
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal
That is only a tiny fraction of the 257 billion tons of coal in United States recoverable reserves
More than 25% of the world’s total coal reserves are located in the United States

5. Introduction to Coal
According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 2015 United States mines produced about 900 million tons of coal
That is only a tiny fraction of the 257 billion tons of coal in United States recoverable reserves
More than 25% of the world’s total coal reserves are located in the United States

6. Introduction to Coal
Coal consumption in the United States is projected to only slightly decrease over the next 25 years from 801 million tons in 2015 to 557 tons by 2040
This is a decrease of about 1.4% per year
However, this projection was before the election of President Trump who promised to revive coal jobs

7. Introduction to Coal
Coal consumption in the United States is projected to only slightly decrease over the next 25 years from 801 million tons in 2015 to 557 tons by 2040
This is a decrease of about 1.4% per year
However, this projection was before the election of President Trump who promised to revive coal jobs

8. Introduction to Coal
Coal consumption in the United States is projected to only slightly decrease over the next 25 years from 801 million tons in 2015 to 557 tons by 2040
This is a decrease of about 1.4% per year
However, this projection was before the election of President Trump who promised to revive coal jobs

9. Introduction to Coal
Of all the fossil-fuel sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) coal is the least expensive for its energy content
Coal plays a major factor for how low the cost of electricity is in the United States
This is why the cost of electricity in states with high coal production such as Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky have some of the lowest costs for electricity

10. Introduction to Coal
Of all the fossil-fuel sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) coal is the least expensive for its energy content
Coal plays a major factor for how low the cost of electricity is in the United States
This is why the cost of electricity in states with high coal production such as Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky have some of the lowest costs for electricity

11. Introduction to Coal
Of all the fossil-fuel sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) coal is the least expensive for its energy content
Coal plays a major factor for how low the cost of electricity is in the United States
The cost of electricity in states with high coal production such as Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky have some of the lowest costs for electricity

12. Introduction to Coal
The burning of coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emission
Mining coal can also have negative effects such as disturbing the nearby land and polluting the nearby streams and rivers
The burning of coal also releases a significant amount of methane, a problematic greenhouse gas

13. Introduction to Coal
The burning of coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emission
Mining coal can also have negative effects such as disturbing the nearby land and polluting the nearby water supplies
The burning of coal also releases a significant amount of methane, a problematic greenhouse gas

14. Introduction to Coal
The burning of coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emission
Mining coal can also have negative effects such as disturbing the nearby land and polluting the nearby water supplies
The burning of coal also releases a significant amount of methane, a problematic greenhouse gas

15. Clean Coal Technology
Coal-fired electric power plants make up the largest source of sulfur dioxide emission in the United States
In September, the EPA finalized Federal Implementation Plans for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which calls for a 53% reduction in sulfur dioxide emission
To meet this goal, plant owners must either use lower sulfur coal in their boilers or install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers

16. Clean Coal Technology
Coal-fired electric power plants make up the largest source of sulfur dioxide emission in the United States
In September, the EPA finalized Federal Implementation Plans for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which calls for a 53% reduction in sulfur dioxide emission
To meet this goal, plant owners must either use lower sulfur coal in their boilers or install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers

17. Clean Coal Technology
Coal-fired electric power plants make up the largest source of sulfur dioxide emission in the United States
In September, the EPA finalized Federal Implementation Plans for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which calls for a 53% reduction in sulfur dioxide emission
To meet this goal, plant owners must either use lower sulfur coal in their boilers or install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubbers

18. Clean Coal Technology
Some coals found in the Wyoming and Montana have less than 1% sulfur content, as compared to the coals in Ohio and West Virginia which have 3-10% sulfur content
However, coal can also be lowered in sulfur content simply by being broken up into smaller chunks and cleaned
Tiny specks of sulfur can be washed away in large water-filled tanks, where coal floats to the surface and sulfur impurities sink to the bottom

19. Clean Coal Technology
Some coals found in the Wyoming and Montana have less than 1% sulfur content, as compared to the coals in Ohio and West Virginia which have 3-10% sulfur content
However, coal can also be lowered in sulfur content simply by being broken up into smaller chunks and cleaned
Tiny specks of sulfur can be washed away in large water-filled tanks, where coal floats to the surface and sulfur impurities sink to the bottom

20. Clean Coal Technology
Some coals found in the Wyoming and Montana have less than 1% sulfur content, as compared to the coals in Ohio and West Virginia which have 3-10% sulfur content
However, coal can also be lowered in sulfur content simply by being broken up into smaller chunks and cleaned
Tiny specks of sulfur can be washed away in large water-filled tanks, where coal floats to the surface and sulfur impurities sink to the bottom

21. Clean Coal Technology
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low cost
When a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralized
The efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%

22. Clean Coal Technology
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low cost
When a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralized
The efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%

23. Clean Coal Technology
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low cost
When a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralized
The efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%

24. Clean Coal Technology
Sulfur dioxide is an acid gas, and therefore is typically removed from the flue gas by an alkaline
The most common alkaline agent to use is limestone, due to its very low cost
When a strong acid, such as sulfur dioxide, comes in contact with limestone, the sulfur dioxide is neutralized
The efficiency of such scrubbers is in the range of 50-90%

25. Economic Challenges
As discussed before, the cost of coal is a huge reason the prices of electricity in the United States are low compared to Europe
Theoretically, if coal production was eliminated through environmental policy, we would expect to see the price of electricity increase dramatically
This increase in electricity would disproportionally affect lower class Americans who may already struggle with electricity costs

26. Economic Challenges
As discussed before, the cost of coal is a huge reason the prices of electricity in the United States are low compared to Europe
Theoretically, if coal production was eliminated through environmental policy, we would expect to see the price of electricity increase dramatically
This increase in electricity would disproportionally affect lower class Americans who may already struggle with electricity costs

27. Economic Challenges
As discussed before, the cost of coal is a huge reason the prices of electricity in the United States are low compared to Europe
Theoretically, if coal production was eliminated through environmental policy, we would expect to see the price of electricity increase dramatically
This increase in electricity costs would disproportionally affect lower-class Americans who may already struggle with electricity costs

28. Economic Challenges
Oregon, where coal is used to produce less than 1% of the electricity , has passed a bill to eliminate the use of coal by the year 2030
However, in other states such as West Virginia, where coal is used to produce over 95% of the electricity, there is an issue of not only energy, but economy in regards to the coal industry
An outright ban on coal would eliminate one of West Virginia’s largest economy sectors, as well as significantly reduce supply of a cheap energy source, leading to an increase in electricity prices

29. Economic Challenges
Oregon, where coal is used to produce less than 1% of the electricity , has passed a bill to eliminate the use of coal by the year 2030
However, in other states such as West Virginia, where coal is used to produce over 95% of the electricity, there is an issue of not only energy, but economy
An outright ban on coal would eliminate one of West Virginia’s largest economy sectors, as well as significantly reduce supply of a cheap energy source, leading to an increase in electricity prices

30. Economic Challenges
Oregon, where coal is used to produce less than 1% of the electricity , has passed a bill to eliminate the use of coal by the year 2030
However, in other states such as West Virginia, where coal is used to produce over 95% of the electricity, there is an issue of not only energy, but economy
An outright ban on coal would eliminate one of West Virginia’s largest economy sectors, as well as significantly reduce supply of a cheap energy source, leading to an increase in electricity prices

31. Questions / Discussion
What is the best way to decrease the harmful pollution caused by coal-fired electricity plants?
What do we do with the unskilled coal miners in states where coal is a large part of their economy?
How do we offset the higher energy costs associated with a no-coal economy?
Is the United States even ready to give up coal as an energy source?

32. Citations