Published: May 15, 2008 04:58 pm            

FLASHPOINT: We must make ‘clean coal’ part of our energy future

The discussions started by the recent Democratic presidential primary in Indiana should not stop. The issues are ongoing. One of them is the critical importance of coal-based energy in America’s future. Coal is particularly important in Indiana, where it generates 94 percent of the electricity and provides more than 2,400 direct mining jobs, and thousands more in utilities, transportation and related industries.

In a recent issue of Scientific American, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and of the United Nations’ Millennium Project, writes: “technology policy lies at the core of the climate change challenge. Even with a cutback in wasteful energy spending, our current technologies cannot support both a decline in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and an expanding global economy. The key is new low-carbon technology, not simply energy efficiency.”

He is correct. By 2042, America’s population is expected to grow by 100 million. Even if we reduced personal energy consumption by 25 to 50 percent, we would still be significantly behind the curve because of population growth. The fact is 400 million Americans can’t live on less energy than 300 million, many of whom already use energy efficient appliances and consumer electronic devices.

The question isn’t whether we’ll use coal (we will); the question is HOW we’ll use coal. The answer is, “cleanly.” With the right investments in technology, coal will help power America through the 21st century with ultra-low emissions, including zero emissions of pollutants regulated by federal and state clean air laws and the capture and storage of CO2.

As we continue to develop advanced clean coal technology, we can sell that technology abroad. Countries such as China and India are going to continue to increase their use of coal and are not likely to develop their own advanced clean coal technology.

Other sources of energy are important, too. We need to explore all options from coal to nuclear to natural gas and wind. However, coal will remain a part of America’s energy outlook for the foreseeable future and beyond.

The candidates agree.

Sen. Hillary Clinton told the Indianapolis Star editorial board (April 29, 2008), “You have to invest in clean coal … we’ve got to figure out how to be more energy efficient and do demonstration projects to try and see how we can get coal as clean as possible and maybe we can export that technology.”

Prior to the Iowa Caucuses, Sen. Obama went on record (Oct. 14, 2007) stating that “Coal is here to stay … we have an abundance of coal in America … burning coal to produce electricity is part of our future.”

We must continue to promote the evolution of advanced clean coal technology that will ensure the wise use of coal for generating electricity not only here in America, but around the world.



The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., ACCCE has more than 40 members that employ more than 360,000 Americans. For more information, visit www.cleancoalusa.org.

        

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