King coal is just a commoner

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Geophys. Prospect.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6264068

Rogers, J T

It is now estimated that 740 billion of the 1,3000 billion tons of known coal reserves are economically recoverable. President Carter's plan to produce 1.2 billion tons of coal per year by 1985 will require opening between 400 and 800 new mines, doubling the mining force, and a capital investment of over $25 billion. The Government Accounting Office sees the goal as overly optimistic in view of the present capability of 800 million tons per year; even that is exceeding present demands. The social and environmental challenges look even more formidable than the economic ones. Mining is dangerous and unhealthy. Environmental effects range from strip-mined arid regions to possible global effects from coal combustion. When imported oil becomes either scarcer or more expensive, coal can be converted to oil and gas via liquefaction and gasification. Until then it will be used in its bulk form primarily in electric-generating plants.

• OSTI ID: 6264068
• Journal Information: Geophys. Prospect.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Prospect.; (United States) Vol. 25:1; ISSN GPPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
017000 -- Coal
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& Peat-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
292000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
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294001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL MINING
COAL RESERVES
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MINING
NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS