In terms of fossil fuels, the U.S. has more coal available domestically than any other fuel type. Of late, however, coal has gotten a very bad reputation. Putting the search terms "coal" and "global warming" into Google results in approximately 1,680,000 hits. Most comments resulting from this search to not favor the use of coal for generating electrical power. Throughout the U.S., proposals to build conventional coal fired power plants have been denied. Most of the opposition is currently being powered by concern for global warming but mercury and other heavy metal contamination have also been factors. What's even more interesting is the fact that the burning of coal exposes the public to considerably more nuclear radiation than a nuclear power plant does.

MIT recently released a fairly exhaustive report (6.2 megs) on the future options available to using coal. As has been mentioned before, however, neither private industry nor our government have shown interest in developing badly needed clean coal technologies until recently. It seems our government chooses to do little until something becomes a national emergency. Also worthy of mention here is the Basin Electric Dakota Gas operation in North Dakota. Basin's products operation shows how a properly designed and sited plant can make money from coal. Upgraded and improved versions of this plant provide real options to energy needs.

An uglier side to burning coal is the resultant wide spread contamination of land & water. In the Colorado region, it is now advisable to be careful about consuming fish from mountain lakes. A significant percentage of the pollution in this region comes from Asia sources. With China building more than one new coal fired power plant per week, the problem will likely only get worse.

The U.S. power is as robust and reliable as it could be. In the western mountian region, there is real concern about the adequecy of transmission lines as well as generation sources. The recent denial by Kansas to build 1400 Mwatts of new coal fired generation will only add to any shortages. As mentioned previously, the Xcel no. 3 unit, currently under construction in Pueblo, is under attack on the grounds of CO₂ emissions. Reliability of electrical supplies could be tight until a transition is made to newer, more expensive and more environmentally friendly technologies.

Please continue to next page - - Nuclear -- Coal -- Solar

• Burning Coal Burning Cash
• The Nature of Mercury
• Mercury & Drinking Water I
• Mercury & Drinking Water II
• Coal on YouTube
• CO₂ & The EPA
• Nuclear Radiation From Coal
• Coal Use Options - MIT
• Basin Electric
• Basin Products
• Gasification Process
• Maps of Mercury Contamination
• Mercury Answers
• Clean Coal I
• Clean Coal II
• CO₂ Recycling