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New research from North Carolina State University and the University of Colorado Boulder finds that steep declines in the use of coal for power generation over the past decade were caused largely by less expensive natural gas and the availability of wind energy -- not by environmental regulations.
"From 2008 to 2013, coal dropped from about 50 percent of U.S. power generation to around 30 percent," says Harrison Fell, an associate professor of resource economics at NC State and co-lead author of a paper on the work.
"Coal boosters blamed stiffer regulations, calling it a 'war on coal.' But that same time period saw a steep drop in the cost of natural gas and an increase in wind generation. We wanted to know how big a role each of these factors played in driving down the demand for coal."
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @11:35AM (1 child)
Historically, a lot of natural gas has been wasted as a by-product of oil drilling, often it's "flared" on site because there is no nearby pipeline to take it somewhere useful. One research project I heard about from an old friend is using a modified IC engine on-site that runs on the "otherwise wasted" gas, to generate electricity. Not at the highest possible efficiency, but compact and easily set up. It's useful where there are electric connections nearby to ship the power to the grid.
Anyone hear of other ways to use unwanted natural gas in a productive way?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @01:39PM
Start a Strategic Natural Gas Reserve. Pay above market price to have it stored on site temporarily. Pick it up with trucks and trains.