2. Introduction Energy mineral base cannot support exponential growth of population Facts –70s shortages increased prices/decreased demand –Oil glut of the 80s overcame these memories –US population 5% of the World; consume 25% of world energy 90% from coal, oil, and natural gas (fossil fuels) 10% hydro, nuclear power, and alternatives

3. Introduction Facts –Alternative energy Solar & wind power, making progress –Information on trends Difficult to extrapolate to the future Much energy used for low temperature processes like space and water heating (100-300  C)

4. Fossil Fuels Solidified form of solar energy – stored in the form of organic material that has escaped total destruction by oxidation Geology of Coal –20% of U.S. energy consumption. High environmental costs –Plant Residue Formed in: Ancient fresh- or brackish- water swamps Coastal lagoons Estuaries Low-lying coastal plains and deltas Example –Florida's mangrove swamps

5. Geology of Coal Coal forming processes –Abundant growth –Accumulation as peat –Inundated by sea –Buried by sediment –Compacted and volatiles expelled –Coal begins to form –Cycle may be repeated several times in a single area

6. Geology of Coal Classification –Rank Carbon content –Sulfur –Confusion Bituminous vs. anthracite

7. Distribution of Coal Classified by sulfur content –West of the Mississippi –East of the Mississippi

8. Coal Resources

9. Impact of Coal Mining Strip mining (open pit) vs. Underground mining –Cost –Safety –Impact varies with location, topography, climate, and reclamation practices Humid climate – impacts more pronounced Dry climates Underground mining –Acid mine drainage –Land subsidence –Fires –Spoil piles

10. Impact of Coal Mining Open Pit –Area mining Flat terrains Greater water pollution problems –Contour mining On slopes More sediment polluti –Good land reclamation Minimize the impact Difficult in dry areas –Soils are thin –Water is lacking

11. Future Uses of Coal Power plant conversions –Coal gasification Decreasing petroleum reserves Impacts –Larger scale mining and land destruction –Ash production will increase –Handling this volume of material will affect all aspects of the environment –May cause trace element problems in the air, water, and land (Hg in Fla)

12. Future Uses of Coal Problems: –Efficient transport to consumer –Lack of on-site water for on-site processing –Solution(?) Pipeline vs. train Clean Coal Technology –Improved Fluid Bed Combustors –Improved Coal Cleaning Technology –Better and Cheaper Derivative Products Hydrogen Synthetic natural gas

13. Future Uses of Coal Coal Waste to Diesel Fuel (Sept.,2005) –Nation's First Waste Coal-to-Diesel Plant -- Set to Be Built in Pennsylvania 2006 Will Produce Cheaper, Cleaner Fuel State Creates Consortium to Purchase 40 Million Gallons of Fuel; DoD Official Joins Governor To be built by Waste Management and Processors Inc. (WMPI) of Gilberton + State of Pennsylvania + Dept of Energy + Dept of Defense Several additional sites compatible with technology could produce as much or more fuel than this site