Coal power in the United States
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Coal power accounts for about half of the electricity production in the United States. The coal plants are mostly base-load plants and account for about 32% of the capacity in the summer.[1] Generation from coal has decreased from 52.8 percent in 1997 to 49.0 percent in 2006.
The share from coal power, however, may increase again with a coal plant building boom. As of 2007, 154 new coal-fired plants are on the drawing board in 42 states.[2] The Energy Department forecasts that coal's share will rise to 57 percent by 2030, fueled in part by rising natural gas prices.
In 2007 an advertising campaign was launched to improve public opinion on coal power titled America's Power. This was done by Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a pro-coal organization started in 2000. See www.americaspower.org/
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[edit] Opposition
In the face of increasing electricity demand through the 2000s, the US has seen a "Growing Trend Against Coal-Fired Power Plants". In 2006 through 2007 there was first a bullish market attitude towards coal with the expectation of a new wave of plants, but political barriers and pollution concerns escalated potentially, which is likely to damage plans for new generation and put pressure on older plants.[3]
The Stop Coal campaign has called for a moratorium on the construction of any new coal plants and for the phase out of all existing plants, citing concern for global warming.[4] Others have called for a carbon tax and a requirement of carbon sequestration for all coal power plants.[5]
[edit] Canceled and slowed proposals
- On October 19, 2007, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was the first government agency to reject a permit for a new coal-fired plant on the basis of carbon dioxide emissions which had been planned by the Sunflower Electric Power Corporation.[6]
- Southwestern Power Group's Bowie Power Station proposed an IGCC plant that was scrapped in favor of a natural gas plant. Regulatory uncertainty was cited as one of the reasons.
- A Florida Power & Light's Glades Power Plant proposed plant of 1,960 MW was rejected by the Florida Public Service Commission. Uncertainty over possible future carbon taxes was cited as one of the reasons.
- An air permit for a plant in Kentucky was rejected in August 2007 in a circuit court on the basis that the air pollution control analysis was inadequate.
[edit] See also
- Important Categories
- Category:Coal-fired power stations in the United States
- Category:Coal companies of the United States
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[edit] References
- ^ EIA - Electricity Data, Analysis, Surveys
- ^ Eco Concern: Coal Plant Boom
- ^ Palang Thai: The Growing Trend Against Coal-Fired Power Plants (USA)
- ^ Want to stop global warming? STOP COAL!
- ^ Cap-&-Trade and Carbon Tax Legislation
- ^ Washington Post. Power Plant Rejected Over Carbon Dioxide For First Time.
