Part Four, Issue 8 Coal

Objectives After reading the assigned chapter and reviewing the materials presented the students will be able to understand: What emissions are produced when coal is burned? What are the trends in global coal use? Are there ways to use coal without harming the environment?

Coal, Air Pollution, and the U.S. China Trade Deficit The U.S. runs a trade deficit with China, meaning that China sells far more to the United States than it buys. China uses as much - 1.5 billion tonnes in 2005 - coal as the U.S., the European Union, and Japan combined. During the past decade, the U.S. has lost many manufacturing jobs to China. The reason given is lower cost. The cost includes the cost of energy and cost to society in the form of air and water pollution.

Some Externalities of Coal Use in China According to the World Bank, about 180,000 people die each year in China due to pollution levels in cities. China emits more mercury pollution than any other country in the world. In 2005 more than 6,000 miners were killed in Chinese mine accidents, according to government statistics.

Origin and Nature of Coal Coal is a fossil fuel composed essentially of compressed altered plant remains buried under anoxic (oxygen free) conditions, allowing plant tissue to be incompletely decomposed by anaerobic bacteria. The plant tissue may be converted into peat, lignite, sub-bituminous and bituminous coal. Coal is composed predominantly of Carbon (C) along with Hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N). Burning coal produces a large amount of CO2, the main agent for global climate change. When plant matter is converted into coal, methane is also formed. Some of this gas is released when coal is mined, which can lead to dangerous explosions. Pyrite (FeS2) (fool’s gold) is also found when mining coal – forms sulfuric acid – when exposed to oxidation and hydration. Strip mining may thus lead to extensive acidification of surface water.

Air Pollution from Coal Combustion In addition to CO2, coal burning can produce high levels of sulfur oxide gases, oxides of nitrogen, and appreciable quantities of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, uranium, and chromium. Coal burning is a major contributor of mercury to the environment. Mercury levels in freshwater and marine fish in many states are high enough to trigger health warnings.

Coal as a Resource In spite of the pollution issues, coal accounts for one fourth of global energy because of: The relative ease and low cost to mine and transport. The energy readily made available when coal is burned. The lack of or non-enforcement of environmental laws in many developing countries. The strides made in most industrialized countries to improve mine safety and control coal emissions.

Carbon Sequestration The Chinese government has passed legislation requiring new coal fired plants install flue gas desulfurization equipment. All existing coal fired plants is China were required to be retrofitted with the same equipment by 2010. Carbon sequestration seeks to store carbon in underground reservoirs before it can reach the atmosphere.

Summary The U.S. runs a trade deficit with China, meaning that China sells far more to the United States than it buys. China uses as much - 1.5 billion tons in 2005 - coal as the U.S., the European Union, and Japan combined. According to the World Bank, about 180,000 people die each year in China due to pollution levels in cities. In addition to CO2, coal burning can produce high levels of sulfur oxide gases, oxides of nitrogen, and appreciable quantities of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, uranium, and chromium. In spite of the pollution issues, coal accounts for one fourth of global energy use because of the relative ease and low cost to mine and transport. Carbon sequestration seeks to store carbon in underground reservoirs before it can reach the atmosphere.

Home Work 1. Explain “trade deficit” with an example. 2. What emissions are produced when coal is burned? 3. Coal accounts for how much of global energy use?