Goodbye Coal
Coal has been a major contributor to our power supply for the last 200 years and now it’s time to say goodbye. There have been many moves lately to cutback or eliminate the use of coal as a source of power throughout the world. The burning of coal produces 2 billion tons of GHG’s annually in the US alone. Since coal produces a greater amount of GHG emissions through its use than most of the fuels available today, the world is calling for the end of coals use or at least a halt in new coal plant construction. The biggest hurtle may be the reduction of coal use in China.
Canada has set a ban on new dirty coal power plants by 2012 in a move to provide greener energy. Duke energy who is the third largest consumer of coal in the US is considering shutting down a number of coal plants to meet emission targets set for 2030 while warning customers that such a move could affect energy bills by as much as 60 percent. In January the DOE canceled a “clean coal” research project under their restructuring plan. Further, DOE moves include funding only the capture and sequester component of any clean coal plant and not the entire plant construction costs and previously considered.
These are steps by major coal users that will make some impact on global GHG emissions. Consumers will need to absorb the costs associated with shifting fuel sources and these costs should intensify the speedy search for economical ways to provide carbon free energy sources.
