High Efficiency, Low Emissions Coal
Approximately 45% of the electricity used within the United States is generated from coal, making this the largest domestically-produced source of energy. However, while coal is inexpensive and readily available, generating energy from coal results in high levels of harmful emissions such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury, carbon dioxide, and other particulates. In 2010, President Obama outlined a federal strategy for carbon capture and clean coal technology development. This strategy served to establish the Department of Energy's Clean Coal Technology Program, put in place stricter EPA regulations pertaining to carbon capture and storage, and brought into play the Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture Storage. The High-Efficiency, Low Emissions Coal Critical Technology Report provides an introduction to clean coal initiatives and highlights government-defined needs for clean coal technology development, an overview of enabling and synergistic clean coal technologies, supporting legislation aimed at effecting change, key stakeholders (including both industry and federal organizations), government R&D programs, budgets, incentives, roadmaps, and more. Hyperlinks (highlighted in blue) throughout this report take you to source documents and/or websites. Relevant points of contact are included throughout this report.
