Download - Coal
Arthur BryantJeanne CannonRyan Sujkowski
Brief History Discuss pros and cons Analyze the Environmental effects from
Coal Discuss pricing
Coal has been a source of energy since 2600 years ago
Took flight in 13th Century in the British Isles
Originally Coal gas was a fad in Britain (1840s)
In the 19th Century is when the US Coal Industry took flight
Northeast PA is known for being abundant with “Black Diamonds.”
2003- Climate Stewardship Act EPA helps regulate the emission of the Greenhouse
gas Elaborated version of the Natural Gas Act of 1938
2010- Energy Market and Economic Impacts of the American Power Act Regulates emission of Greenhouse Gas based upon
economic incentives 2013- Clean Water Act for fossil-fuel and
nuclear power plants. EPA proposed new effluent limitation guidelines
(ELGs) ELGs sets limits on the amount of pollutants that can
be discharged into surface waters
Fuel Type Fuel Unit
Fuel Price Per Unit (dollars)
Fuel Heat Content Per
Unit (Btu)
Fuel Price Per Million
Btu (dollars)
Fuel Oil (#2) Gallon 4.04 138,690 $29.12
Electricity KiloWatt-hour 0.117 3,412 $34.22
Natural Gas 1 Therm 2 $0.75 100,000 $7.54
Propane Gallon $2.27 91,333 $24.82
Wood 3 Cord $200.00 22,000,000 $9.09
Pellets Ton $250.00 16,500,000 $15.15
Corn (kernels) 3 Ton $200.00 14,000,000 $14.29
Kerosene Gallon $4.41 135,000 $32.65
Coal (Anthracite) Ton $200.00 25,000,000 $8.00
Terrestrial damage/Habitat destruction / fragmentation Surface mining disrupts virtually all aesthetic elements of the
landscape. Alteration of landforms often imposes unfamiliar and
discontinuous configurations. New linear patterns appear as material is extracted and waste
piles are developed. Different colors/textures are exposed as vegetative cover is
removed and overburden dumped to the side. Dust, vibration, and diesel exhaust odors are created (affecting
sight, sound, and smell). Subsidence
the ground level lowers as a result of coal having been mined beneath.
Aquatic damage/Physical stream damage mountaintop removal: soil and rock removed is deposited in
nearby valleys, hollows and depressions, resulting in blocked (and contaminated) water ways.
Destroy aquifers
Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, & toxic air pollution.
Clean Coal
Texas Clean Energy Project Working on technology to capture 90% of
Carbon Received $450,000,000 from Fed. Gov’t Eliminate the cost and damage of mining
Clinton administration (2003) signed the Fossil Energy Protocol Better usage of coal and oil Committed $75,000,000
PROS U.S. DOEFE
Set up labs to test clean coal came up with ways to use CO2 to their advantage coming up with alternatives for shale fracking.
CONS Quit Coal
Americans spend over half of a trillion dollars on healthcare from environmental impacts from coal.
Sierra Mountain Club Don’t like because mining destroys mountains
and has negative environment impact Coal is Dirty
Global Warming
Health Effects Deep mining
Poor air filtration: black lung Collapsing Shaft explosions Child labor
No OSHA laws outside of the US
Coal can be converted into other forms of energy Gasification Diesel
Besides the opposition, coal is still one of the main sources of energy throughout the world
It is the most economical http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ILAiQURrMH0
http://www.eia.gov/coal/ http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/gasification/index.html http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-the-environment/coal-use-the-environment/
improving-efficiencies/ http://www.coalfacts.org/ http://energy.gov/fe/science-innovation/clean-coal-research/gasification http://energy.gov/fe/science-innovation/clean-coal-research/hydrogen-coal http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1870599,00.html http://coalandfuel.blogspot.com/2008/09/underground-coal-gasification-
ucg.html http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-of-coal/coal-to-liquids/ http://www.environment.gen.tr/what-is-energy/90-energy-units-and-
calculators.html http://www.cleancoalusa.org/sites/all/files/EPA_Regulations_July_15.pdf http://www.coal-is-dirty.com/who_we_are http://quitcoal.org/about http://ilovemountains.org/act/ http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-the-environment/coal-mining-the-environment/