Heyl & Patterson Blog

Coal-fired power plants continue to be the largest source of electricity generation in the United States, but their market share is declining.  About 15 percent of the coal-fired capacity currently active is expected to be retired by 2040.  Existing coal plants that have undergone environmental equipment retrofits will continue to operate throughout the projection, with natural gas, renewables and nuclear power steadily growing in the years to come.  The American energy mix is changing, and the U.S. can learn from growing pains occurring on foreign soil.

Electricity drives our nation’s economy and powers smart technologies that enhance our quality of life.  Today, the electric power industry is a robust industry that contributes to the progress of our nation.  America’s electric companies pay billions of dollars in tax revenue, employ nearly 400,000 workers, provide a variety of public service programs to benefit the local communities they serve, and produce one of our most valuable commodities — electricity.

Much has been made of the recent development by Ohio State University into clean coal processing technology.  This effort utilizes an innovative process called "chemical looping."  Typical coal-fired power plants burn coal to heat water, which makes steam, which then turns the turbines that produce electricity.  In chemical looping, coal isn't burned with fire, but instead is chemically combusted within a sealed chamber so it does not pollute the air.