U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Information Administration
Annual Energy Outlook 2005
“Total primary energy consumption, including energy for electricity generation, grows by 1.1 percent per year from 2004 to 2030. Fossil fuels account for 88 percent of the growth, with coal use increasing by 53 percent, petroleum by 34 percent and natural gas by 20 percent over that period. The increase in coal consumption occurs primarily in the electric power sector, with strong growth in electricity demand and favorable economics prompting increases in coal-fired baseload capacity. More than one-half of the increase in coal consumption is expected after 2020, when higher natural gas prices make coal the fuel of choice for most new power plants. Growth in natural gas consumption for power generation is restrained by its high price relative to coal.”
- Though coal is a non-renewable energy source, one-fourth of the coal in the world is found in North America. The U.S has the world’s largest known coal reserves.
- Using new technology, such as the Ashworth Combustor, offers flexibility in burning coal or biomass with emissions well below the EPA standards.
- New techniques in surface mining minimize environmental impact by cutting open a thin slice to access the coal deposits instead of clearing off mountain tops. (For information on such technology, see www.carbonhighwall.com.)
- According to the U.S. Dept of Energy, two-thirds of coal production comes from surface mines and because of the “improved mining technology, the amount of coal produced by one miner in one hour has more than tripled since 1978.”
- Clean-burning coal can be blended with other coal to reduce emissions. For example, see ENVIROCOAL at www.adaroenvirocoal.com.
- Coal use creates domestic jobs in mining and transportation.
- Use of coal reduces the need for oil and gas and their rising costs.
- Burning coal produces steam and heat which can be used for making electricity or for heating industries and homes.