So with the recent tragedies involving coal mines...what do we still use coal for?

Question

Thanks to all who provided thoughtful and intelligent answers...I asked because I was saddened by the recent coal mining tragedies. My heart goes out to their families. The situation provoked my question because when I was very young, people in my neighborhood used coal burned in a cast iron pot belly type stove to heat their homes. In my ingnorance, I didn't realize we still used coal for any type of energy. I thought nuclear energy had replaced coal, thus why would there still be people in coal dangerous mines. Thanks again for the enlightenment!

Answer 1

Here are the two main uses of coal today.

Coal is primarily used as a solid fuel to produce electricity and heat through combustion.

Coke is a solid carbonaceous residue derived from low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Metallurgic coke is used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. Coke from coal is grey, hard, and porous and has a heating value of 24.8 million Btu/ton (29.6 MJ/kg). Byproducts of this conversion of coal to coke include coal tar, ammonia, light oils, and "coal gas".

Over the last forty years, the use of fossil fuels has continued to grow and their share of the energy supply has increased. In the last three years, coal has become the fastest growing fossil fuel, however without carbon capture and many other controls on air pollution, increased use of coal is a major setback to quality of life.

Answer 2

An odd question I think. Coal is the most plentiful energy resource in the US and is probably the most important resource in achieving energy independence from oil. It is possible that all electrical power in the US could be produced by coal fired generation. Mass transit, buses, trolleys, and trains can all be run on electricity. The major automakers in the US are moving toward hydro cell powered cars which would be the rest of the equation. Most electricity today is produced by coal fired plants and we have enough coal resources in the US to carry us to the next generation of energy that is not fossil fuel based. Coal can also be a pollutant if plants who use it are not required to burn in cleanly and salvage the smokestack residue. That technology exists today but is not required because Dem Senators (oh you thought they were green?) have blocked the implementation of the Clean Air Act for almost 25 years. Coal is very important to this country's energy needs and in fact can have impact on both pollution (by replacing much oil) and on peace be neutralizing the Islamic radicals into just slaughtering each other (thier second favorite activity). The US has the chance of using coal to relieve a great deal of energy pressure. We shall see what kind of leadership emerges.

Answer 3

I don't think it is a kindness to mix the two, at a time when the energy decisions are being made. It spotlights the view of a possible deliberate death by the investors or owner of that mine. And a forced choice by the investors upon all consumers of the product. It also appears that the popular opinion for catching attention to a subject would be to first use the death of a person.

Answer 4

Just to name a few:

Coal currently provides 50% of the US electricity supply. Globally it supplies 37% of electricity.

Coal ash is used in: Tennis Rackets, Golf Balls, Linoleum.

US coal exports approximately 50 million tons year.

Answer 5

Coal provides most of the electrical energy for our country.

Answer 6

Maybe if we used more Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Nucelar, and Wood Power, we wouldn't need coal.

That's a good reason to keep the TV off, and lights off (when not in use).

Coal supplies a large amount of power for our country.

Answer 7

We need it so Al Gore can run his mega home, using more energy in a month than the average family does in a year.

But dont worry, he has "carbon offsets" whatever that is.

Answer 8

With the recent tragedies involving Motor vehicles..... what do we still use them for?