Coal Energy Articles

Coal miners look to add clean energy assets and utilities shift spending to renewables.

Coal energy articles.

Coal as an energy source. Although coal use was once common in the industrial transportation residential and commercial sectors today the main use of coal in the united states is to generate electricity. Energy related co2 emissions from natural gas surpass coal as fuel use patterns change july 21 2016 changing u s. In 2018 murray energy produced 46 4 million tons and was the country s fourth largest coal producer accounting for 6 of total production according to the energy information administration.

Coal is an abundant natural resource that can be used as a source of energy as a chemical source from which numerous synthetic compounds e g dyes oils waxes pharmaceuticals and pesticides can be derived and in the production of coke for metallurgical processes. As coal declines and wind and solar energy rise some are pushing to limit the use of natural gas but utilities say they are not ready to do so. Energy mix reflects growing use of natural gas petroleum and renewables. On an energy content basis this amount was equal to about 11 3 quadrillion british thermal units btu and to about 11 of total u s.

Coal is the dominant source of energy in india because it s locally available and has historically been quite cheap more so because there hasn t been aggressive regulation or taxation upon its externalities yet. However future coal will look different than older coal because it will have to be more sustainable and also cost effective. The last time the united states consumed more renewable energy than coal was in the 19th century when hydropower was just getting started and wood burning was a major fuel source.