Your textbook discusses the current state of our energy system, but what should the future energy system of America look like? In this section we will examine four aspects of our energy future:
- Coal
- Nuclear
- Renewable
- Conservation and Efficiency
Coal
This massive pile of coal serves the Clifty Creek Generating Station, a highway grader can be seen on the pile. The barge in the background delivers coal from mining operations in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The Ohio River and Kentucky are in the background. (Photo: Chris Thomas)
Coal will remain a viable option for Hoosier’s energy needs. Plenty of coal reserves are available in the U.S., it is cheap to burn, and existing technology can reduce most of the harmful emissions given off by burning coal. Part of Governor Mitch Daniel's campaign platform is to build two major coal-fired power plants in Indiana. Since 1991 the coal industry has spent tens of billions of dollars installing pollution control devices; yet many power plants still lack these devices, and even clean power plants still emit large amounts of harmful pollutants like mercury, hydrogen fluoride, and cadmium - as evidenced when six of Indiana's coal-burning power stations made the 50 Dirtiest Power Plants list. Not only is there air pollution to contend with but also the solid waste (ash) that comes from burning coal. This waste is contaminated with heavy metals and must be disposed of properly in order to prevent groundwater contamination
In order for coal to remain a viable energy production method which does not seriously degrade air quality, several things must happen:
- Tighter coal mining restrictions are needed to prevent total environmental destruction at large scale mining facilities in Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
- Tighter restrictions are needed for coal fly ash disposal, the stuff left over when the coal is burned. Current law allows the pollutant rich ash to be dumped outside of landfills.
- The best available pollution control technology needs to be installed at all major power plants to limit major pollutants to safe levels.
These factors will increase the electric rates of coal burning utilities; however, many of these costs are already dumped on society in the form of health costs from poor air quality.