The Problems with Burning Coal to Generate Electricity

Burning coal is the most polluting way to generate electricity. From mining, to transportation, to generation, to waste disposal, coal causes severe environmental problems that other energy resources do not. Coal is full of hazardous substances that, when burned, contaminate the air, the land and water. Other sources of electricity generation, including water, wind, and solar do not have these severe environmental consequences.

There are also differences in the amount of pollution produced by different coal-burning technologies. Many people who are concerned about the impact of coal burning on the atmosphere and human health are trying to stop the development of all new coal-fired power plants. Other people are urging that only the least polluting technology be used. Currently, that technology is integrated gasification and combined cycle combustion (IGCC). With IGCC there is even the possibility that carbon dioxide—the primary global warming pollutant—can be captured and sequestered in the ground. Whether IGCC is the answer or not, the fact remains that using coal to produce electricity is poisoning the planet and causing irreparable harm worldwide.

Here are some of the issues to consider when thinking about using coal for electricity.

Mercury:

Coal-fired power plants are the leading source of mercury in Montana's air. Nationwide, these plants are responsible for over 40% of the mercury that enters the air each year. In Montana, these plants report emitting 92% of the mercury in Montana's air. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. It impairs fetal development and causes neurological disorder, developmental disabilities, visual and hearing impairment, and cardiac diseases. Minute quantities in the womb can cause irreversible effects. It has been linked to autism, ADD and other learning disabilities. These plants have the ability to control at least 90% of their mercury emissions but currently no plants in Montana are doing so. The State needs stronger rules that require all plants to reduce mercury pollution as much as possible.

Air Quality:

When coal is burned harmful air pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates are released to the air. These pollutants cause and aggravate respiratory diseases, damage lung tissue, and can lead to premature death. They can also harm vegetation, trees, crops and water quality.

Global Warming Pollution:

Coal-fired power plants are the primary source of the principal global warming pollutant, carbon dioxide.

• Between 1990 and 2003, total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions increased about 18%.
• About 98% of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. come from the burning of fossil fuels.
• There is broad scientific agreement that human activities are causing the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to rise.
• With only 5% of the world's population, the U.S. emits 22% of the world's greenhouse gases (24 tons per person per year). Montana emits 35 tons per person per year. Montana ranks 8th in the nation in per capita CO2 emissions.
• In the last 1,000 years, the hottest 20 years have occurred since 1980. 2005 was the hottest year ever recorded.

In Montana global warming puts agriculture, water availability, tourism, forest health, and millions of species at risk.

• Since 1999, Montana's wheat yields have been 15-30% less than the previous 10 years. The models developed by MSU on global warming impacts on Montana agriculture predict a further 20-40% decrease in yields.
• Of the 150 glaciers present in Glacier National Park 100 years ago, only 26 remain. Even these are expected to vanish within 30 years.
• In Montana, Spring melt-off occurs 15 days earlier than 50 years ago according to University of Montana scientist, Steve Running, with the Montana Climate Center.
• Snowfall in the Missoula area has fallen from 55 inches to 40 inches, and the number of frost-free days has increased by 15 in the last 50 years.
• Flathead Lake reported the highest ever mid-lake temperature on July 22, 2003: 76 degrees at the deepest point.

Integrated Gasification and Combined Cycle Technology

If coal is to be used to produce electricity, the least polluting technology available today is known as IGCC. IGCC converts coal into a synthetic gas that can be used as a fuel in a standard combined cycle power plant.

• IGCC plants can be built to capture and separate 90-95% of the carbon dioxide.
• IGCC plants emit less than 3% of the sulfur dioxide of traditional coal plants and have particulate levels well below federal standards.
• IGCC plants emit 20% less carbon dioxide than traditional coal plants because they are more efficient.
• IGCC can reduce water consumption by 40%-70% (although sequestration—see below—can significantly increase water use).
• IGCC can cut solid waste volumes in half.
• Removing mercury from an IGCC facility is less complex, less expensive, and more effective than traditional coal plants.
• Currently, two plants in the US and many worldwide use coal in an IGCC process to generate electricity. Wabash River Coal Gasification Repowering Project in Indiana is the largest single-train gasification facility in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the cleanest coal-fired plant of any kind in the world. [3]

Carbon Sequestration:

Carbon sequestration is an unproven solution to a complex problem. It involves permanently storing carbon dioxide in a way that prevents it from entering the atmosphere. Two types of sequestration are often mentioned. One involves storing carbon dioxide in trees. This method is only successful as long as the trees are alive. The more promising method is geologic sequestration. This involves pumping CO2 into the earth's crust. Currently, some oil companies are pumping CO2 into oil fields to enhance oil recovery. However, this method has not been demonstrated to be effective for long-term sequestration of CO2. Carbon sequestration raises a host of issues regarding its long-term viability, including sufficiency of storage availability, siting CO2 pipelines, the integrity of the geologic formations, financial responsibility and liability, and long-term management and monitoring responsibilities.

Mining and Reclamation:

Montana has an enormous amount of coal. Compared to neighboring states, the rate of coal mining in Montana has remained relatively constant for the past 30 years because Montana coal is more expensive to mine, can be of marginal quality, and is more expensive to transport to market.

Reclamation of coal mines is a significant challenge. Since the early 1970s, Montana has had an exemplary reclamation law but problems still remain. Montana mining companies are not reclaiming lands concurrently with mining. This makes it more difficult, and expensive, to re-establish vegetation, and raises the issue whether the reclamation bonds are adequate. Water impacts, however, remain the biggest challenge. While surface water drainages are relatively easy to restore superficially, it remains to be seen how viable they will be over the long term. Underground, large problems still occur. As groundwater percolates through reclaimed spoils it becomes contaminated with all sorts of previously unavailable chemicals. This contamination manifests itself ultimately in surface water and the uptake of contaminants in vegetation.

It is because mining companies are unable to effectively deal with these water quality problems that no land mined after the passage of the Montana Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act has ever had its bond fully released.

Solid Waste:

The ash from coal-fired power plants contains about 5% hazardous substances including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury. Over 120 sites across the country have contaminated surface and ground water due to improper disposal of ash from coal-fired power plants. At least 3 federal Superfund sites were created by improper disposal of this ash.

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[3] "Technical paper" presented at Nineteenth Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference

September 23-27, 2002