Abstract
The paper explores whether or not coal power can ever become a sustainable technology. The paper defines sustainability and explains that although coal power plants pollute the atmosphere, new technologies have made the idea of environmentally responsible coal power plants a possibility. The paper concludes that the use of coal in hyper-efficient gasification plants seems to be a viable, sustainable option.

From the Paper
"First we must articulate a conception of sustainability, a definition if you will. Conclusions about coal's sustainability will be largely arbitrary unless we establish from the outset a clear sense of what it means to be sustainable. This will provide the framework with which coal's potential to be a sustainable option can be evaluated. It is naive to think that sustainability is defined as an either-or proposition. Too often, definitions of sustainability imagine that a process, technology, or ideology is either sustainable or it is not."

Tags:gasification, power, plant, pollution, efficiency, fossil, fuel

Abstract
This paper begins with a description of the appearance and composition of coal and then takes a look at the history of coal as an energy source. The paper also discusses the negative effects of using coal as an energy source, explains how coal is mined, looks at the use and mining of coal from an economic perspective and looks at the advantages of using coal as an energy source.

From the Paper
"Man has always aimed to acquire a fuel source that would be beneficial for the community. One such fuel that man stumbled upon was coal. "Coal has been used for heating since the cave man" (A Brief History of Coal Use). There are two types of mining that take place in order to acquire coal. One is an underground mining and the other being an open-pit mining. Coal is a sedimentary rock that is black or brownish black in color. Primarily it is composed of carbon and has many other elements in it including sulfur. The formation of coal is also a highly interesting procedure and it is formed from the remains of the plants that have been chemically altered, hardened, compacted as well as metamorphosed by pressure and heat over geologic time. There are four types of coal depending on the length of time they have been exposed to the geological processes. The lowest quality of coal is 'Lignite' which is also at times referred to as brown coal. Its use is exclusively reserved as fuel for steam-electric power. A compact form of lignite which is polished is known as 'Jet' and its use since the Iron Age has been as an ornament. The next level up is the 'Sub-bituminous' coal and its properties range from lignite to bituminous coal. Its primary purpose is the same as that of lignite. 'Bituminous' is normally black in color and is a dense coal. Apart from being used as fuel in steam-electric power generation, it is also used for heat and power applications in order to make coke. The highest quality coal is 'Anthracite' and it is used primarily for space heating in residential as well as commercial uses."

Tags:mined, expansion, industry, warm, hoams, drive, railways, steamships, power, factories

Abstract
This paper discusses the use of coal as a fuel. The paper reviews the properties of coal and the different mining methods. The paper also discusses the impact the use of coal has on the environment.

From the Paper
"One way to lower down the carbon dioxide production of an energy plant is by making it more efficient, that is generating more energy with less fuel. A process called gasification converts coal to gas. This process is about 40 percent efficient as opposed to a steam driven coal plant with an efficiency of about 36 percent. However for the short run and maybe the long run as well, the most important new source of energy from the Rocky Mountain West will be coal. Earlier in the century small amounts of western coal were used to power steam locomotives. With the introduction of diesels after World War II, however, western coal production dropped off to very minimal levels. Then, in the early 1970s transportation of low-sulfur western coal to new coal-burning power plants in parts of the Midwest became economic. Because of environmental regulations, it had become cheaper to import western coal than to install the expensive scrubbers needed to clean high-sulfur eastern and mid-western coal. "

Tags:sulfur, fuel, electricity, power, carbon, dioxide

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that there has been much debate about the best way to achieve energy independence in the West in recent years. Rising fossil fuel costs have made the issue of environmental sustainability even more acute. The writer discusses that in particular, volatility in the natural gas market has made coal a much more attractive means for producing electricity, at least from an economic standpoint. The writer discusses whether or not coal power can ever become a sustainable technology.

Tags:coal, sustainability, environment

Abstract
This paper examines the environmental problems that occur due to emissions from coal-fired power plants. The paper focuses on the older power plants in the Great Lakes region. The paper discusses the problem and explores solutions to rectify the situation. The paper contends that, despite pollution issues, there are many reasons to support coal-fired power plants, and therefore, the most promising solution involves tighter regulation of coal-fired power plants, particularly reducing the pollution caused by older plants, such as those in the Great Lakes area.

From the Paper
"Out of the entire electric industry, coal-fired power plants contribute 96% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 93% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 88% of carbon dioxide emissions, and 99% of mercury emissions (Dirty coal power). Today, there are fish consumption advisories for mercury contamination in 45 states and 20% of American women of childbearing age have levels of mercury that exceed what is considered safe for a fetus (Mercury from coal-fired power plants). Coal-fired power plants is responsible for over 90% of mercury contamination in the Great Lakes (Gluckman, 2004) Further, EPA studies reveal that air pollution from coal-fired power plants triggers asthma attacks, bronchitis, and heart disease, and contributes to about 30,000 premature deaths a year (New source review/ coal-fired power plants)."

Tags:mercury, emissions, pollution

Abstract
This paper explains that the problems with existing use of fossil fuels like coal and oil are (1) eventually they will be depleted and (2) fossil fuels are dirty thus causing acid rain, global warming and poor air quality. The author points out that environmentally friendly, renewable power solutions include wind, solar, geothermal, wave and tidal energy, hydrogen fuel cells and modern biomass developments. However, these are still in limited use, thus the world remains depends on fossil fuels. The paper relates that another problem is the power of the big oil companies, who stand to lose a lot of money if alternative power really does catch-on; instead, they should be using their resources to develop these alternative power sources thus making the planet healthier, too.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Problem
Solutions
Summary

From the Paper
"None of these solutions are being used enough to remedy the problem, and there are many reasons why they are not being more heavily used. Many of the long-term projects are very expensive to build and operate, and so utilities are hesitant to invest in them. Around the world, many countries are investing in alternative power, such as wind power. Another writer notes, "India, China, and a dozen European nations have installed thousands of wind turbines that generate electricity at a cost comparable to new coal-fired power plants." Here in the U.S. wind power has caught on in some areas, but the vast areas needed to create these "wind farms" is limited, and many people here find them unsightly, so they are not as popular as they are in other parts of the world. They have to be in an area that gets a lot of wind, too, which limits where they can be installed and used."

Tags:depletion, health, solar, wind, oil-companies

Abstract
The paper discusses the Black Mesa coal mine site and the battle over the rights of the Hopi and Navajo native peoples to protect their sacred lands and the Peabody power company's wish to expand operations. The paper explains this issue as the struggle for a balance between the needs of the more developed areas and the needs of the Native Americans. The paper further explains that this is an issue of protecting the environment's resources as well as dealing with the issue of how the Peabody company receives water for virtually nothing and therefore wastes this resource.

From the Paper
"The Black Mesa Coal Mine is in Northern Arizona and is owned by the Peabody Coal Mining Company, which leases the land from the Hopi and Navajo tribes under an agreement from 1964. There are actually two mines in the ore, both owned by the same power company under the same agreement, one at Black Mesa and the other at Kayenta, with each mine providing coal for a different power plant. The site today is the focus of a battle over the right to protect sacred lands and to maintain the way of life associated with that land and the desire on the part of the power company to expand operations and to make the lease permanent for the life of the mine."

Tags:Hopi, Navajo, natives, Peabody, resources, environment

Abstract
The paper considers the concerns dams present to the environment and discusses how in the United States, state and federal agencies are able to place conditions on dam licenses, including protections for the environment and other interests. The paper looks at how technology is improving the mechanics of providing hydropower and describes the risks in the event of a dam failure. The paper also relates how canals and rivers can be adapted to create electricity, and how countries with ocean coastlines may be able to harness power from the tides. The paper notes the advantages of hydropower over oil or coal and asserts that it can become a viable alternate energy source.

From the Paper
"Water, like wind, has been used throughout history. The ancient Greeks used it to power gristmills for grinding wheat into flour. Flowing water creates energy that can be captured and turned into electricity. This is called hydroelectric power, or hydropower. Nigel Hawkes tells us worldwide, hydropower plants produce about twenty-four percent of the world's electricity and supply more than one billion people with power. The world's hydropower plants output a combined total of 675,000 megawatts, the energy equivalent of 3.6 billion barrels of oil. Hydroelectric power can be a cleaner alternate energy source as oil supplies become costly and scarce."

Tags:water, wind, electricity, energy, oil, dams, tides, reservoirs

Abstract
In this article, the writer builds on previous research and examines the potential that coal can be employed to generate power in a sustainable fashion. The final conclusion of the discussion is mixed. The writer maintains that coal's environmental record is not good, and even technical "fixes" can only improve the situation somewhat. Nevertheless, coal can be used in a surprisingly efficient and sustainable manner that warrants a closer look.

Tags:coal, energy, environment

Abstract
This paper discusses the use of fossil fuel for massive energy generation. It describes the debate over the use of fossil fuels - citing the arguments both for and against their use. It focuses on the reasons why fossil fuel production is important and necessary and describes the benefits of its use. The paper then looks at the environmental concerns regarding the use of coal for electricity production.

From the Paper
"Obviously, using any fossil fuel for massive energy generation will be a mixed bag. Developers will always be fighting a battle against environmental destruction, as fossil fuel technologies tend to be highly polluting and contribute to global warming through the production of carbon dioxide. Nonetheless, fossil fuels will be a significant component of the world's energy supply for at least the next few decades as no alternative energy source is currently mature enough to supplant fossil fuel technology. In the end, coal power--if properly utilized in technically advanced gasification plants--has the potential to provide cheap, plentiful power to the world with fewer environmental issues than would have been the case even a few decades ago. New technology makes sustainable coal power a possibility, if not a certainty."

Tags:carbon, dioxide, global, warming, power