Future Looks Bright for Coal According to Department of Energy Report

By Anonymous

The United States Department of Energy released a report that projects substantial growth in coal’s share of the U.S. electricity market. The report also projects a large upswing in the production of coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuels during the next 20 years.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook for 2007 assumes that current energy and environmental policies will remain unchanged through the report’s 2030 projection period.

“EIA’s 2007 projection is both welcome and cautionary.” said National Mining Association president and chief executive officer Kraig R. Naasz. “The forecast that coal will increase its share of the U.S. electricity generation market to 57 percent, and thus increase its share among major fuels, should he welcome news in a country blessed with the world’s largest coal reserves. In this year’s reference case, EIA expects rapid growth in coal use for both electricity generation and for coal liquefaction, which by 2025 becomes the second largest use of coal production after electric power generation.” Naasz said.

“EIA’s 2007 projection is both welcome and cautionary,” Naasz said.

Copyright Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. Jan 2007

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