Today Half of our electricity comes from coal
Coal provides half of America’s electricity generation and more
than twice as much as the next-highest contributor — nuclear. In
addition, coal is the largest single source of energy production at
more than 31 percent of the total.
We use a lot of coal because it is abundant in our own country and
we know where to find it.
Coal continues to be a fuel of choice for electricity generation
because it is domestically abundant and affordable. New technology
makes it possible to use coal to generate electricity and still meet
today's stringent environmental standards.
Americans are not alone in relying upon coal to meet the growing
demand for energy. The U.S. government predicts that world coal
consumption will increase from 114.5 quadrillion Btu in 2004 to 199.1
quadrillion Btu in 2030, at an average annual rate of 2.2 percent. In
addition, coal’s share of total world energy use is projected to
increase from 26 percent in 2004 to 28 percent in 2030. Let's
hope these projections are incorrect, since America needs to develop
and diversify into alternative energy solutions that would not
pollution our air or increase our global carbon footprint.
The 'favorite sites' below are a starting point
for you to research what is meant by 'clean coal'. How clean is
clean coal or is it just a marketing campaign slogan? Do
expensive filtration systems make burning coal environmentally
acceptable? Would China and other countries use these systems or just
burn it dirty? Does coal to hydrogen conversion make sense?
"Reality" Coalition Launches Campaign Debunking
"Clean Coal" Myth"
