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Coal-powered electricity generation is more popular in the US now than any time in the last ten years, according to a survey sponsored by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE).

The poll of 600 ‘opinion leaders’ found a 72% support for coal-generated electricity, with the same proportion expecting that plants would employ new technology to reduce emissions within the next 10-20 years.

“While environmental concerns were the primary driver of the debate in the past, this poll shows that energy security concerns are more pressing for the key voters,” says Joe Lucas of ACCCE.

Reflecting the sea change in the fortunes of coal power in the US, plans for two new plants are getting off the ground.

First up, American Electric Power Company has been given the go ahead for a 600 MW coal power plant in Hempstead County, Arkansas. The John W. Turk Jr. plant will be an ultra-supercritical facility using high temperatures and pressures to increase efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions per kilowatt of energy produced.

Despite using low-sulphur coal and emissions controls systems, the plant does not have technology to limit CO₂ emissions. However, the plant’s operator Southwestern Electric Power Company, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, is setting aside part of the site for carbon capture equipment in case required by future legislation.

A second coal-powered electricity plant is being planned for Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The facility, which is being developed by Future Fuels with investment from Immersive Media Corporation, will use advanced integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) clean coal technology

For further information:
www.cleancoalusa.org
www.americaspower.org
www.swepco.com/news/hempstead/
www.futurefuelsllc.com
www.immersivemedia.com

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Report calls for carbon capture and storage demos now (3-Nov)
US Department of Energy launches latest round of clean coal funding (15-Aug)
US pledges $36 million to advance carbon capture (4-Aug)
DOE earmarks $1.3 billion for carbon capture and storage (1-Jul)
Climate changes for coal in the US (17-Apr)