Energy From New Coal Power Plants

October 20, 2009
Energy Facts Weekly

The Energy Information Administration projects that by 2030 the United States will need:
27,000 additional megawatts in coal-based electricity generating capacity.
290 additional billion kilowatt hours of coal based generation.

Economic impact
The role coal plays in the economy has been well documented (e.g. 3), but another important story is that ongoing construction of new coal power plants is currently producing a significant number of jobs at various sites around the country. When operational, these plants each will become an important part of the socioeconomic fabric of their communities:

• Each facility will produce over 600 MW of power, provide jobs to residents and purchase services from nearby businesses.
  
• In addition, these coal units are important sources of local revenue. In Texas, for example, Luminant's Martin Lake Plant provides 70% of the school district's tax base. In Missouri, donations from employees at a single coal plant are the leading contributor to Franklin County's United Way budget.
  
  

Meeting environmental goals
An 80% percent reduction in CO2 emissions while maintaining economic growth is an important goal of the Obama Administration. The International Energy Agency has identified CCS as a "critically important technology" in attaining such goals. [4]

• Improved energy efficiency at new power plants will reduce CO2 emissions by 15 to 30%. [5]
  
• CCS technologies are the pathway the administration has identified and to this end the Obama administration has made a $1 billion commitment to FutureGen, a near-zero emission facility, with the goal of achieving a commercial scale power plant with CCS by 2016. [1]
  

Such leadership by the United States is essential to making CCS technologies available to the rest of the world. Over 1.6 billion people do not have any electricity at all and another 2 billion have inadequate access. Billions of people toil grimly in the dark. Coal is a crucial key to turning on the light. The Obama Administration clearly recognizes these global realities and believes that clean coal technologies are the pathway to improving the quality of life across the world.