It has become clear to me that the term "clean coal" is a glorified and considerably political term that causes quite the controversy when discussed. So, what exactly is "clean coal"? According to David Grossman article published on Popular Mechanics, clean coal "usually means capturing carbon emissions from burning coal and storing them in underground pockets of porous rock". He clarifies that "the term clean coal has been applied to many technologies, ranging from wet scrubbers, which remove sulfur dioxide from coal-generated gas, to coal washing, which removes soil and rock from coal before it’s sent to a factory. Hypothetically, the term could be applied to anything that makes coal plants more efficient." Therefore, it's easy to say that there is no such thing as clean coal. The environment will inevitably be harmed regardless of the coal-mining method we may use, this just so happened to be a mythical term created to mask that realization.
Burning coal, such as for power/electricity generation, comes with a greater variety of wastes which must be controlled or at least accounted for. So-called 'clean coal' technologies are an attempt of evolving responses to late 20th century environmental concerns, including that of global warming due to carbon dioxide releases, which we read about in the New York Times article and how Trump made his own oppositions to the topic. The article basically confirmed this by saying how "administration officials have sometimes used “clean coal” to refer to highly efficient coal plants that don’t use carbon capture but emit somewhat less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than older coal plants." One of these methods mentioned was by washing the coal that comes out of mines to reduce its ash content, Trump proceeded to call this a way of getting "clean coal".
According to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, there were 104,895 fatalities from coal mining and other coal-related activities in the United States between 1900 and 2020 alone. To be more specific, burning coal releases soot, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and a number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to plants and animals. Coal is noticeably the most carbon-dense of all fossil fuels, which is why burning it the "old-fashioned" way makes it by far the dirtiest, as it actually releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by mass than any other fuel.
Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Energy started its Clean Coal Technology Demonstration Program in 1986, with a goal to reduce emissions of elements like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which were key contributors to acid rain. (At the time, acid rain became a greater issue and main focus instead of global warming). In addition, it is apparent that when people discuss clean coal, they might also be referring to the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. CCS technologies are in the forefront of being able to enjoy 'clean coal'... but not really. As previously mentioned, clean coal is another way of symbolizing the "better" coal mining methods. It is almost as if they are comparing 'clean coal' to 'dirty coal', it just doesn't make sense. We are simply addressing the ways in which we might have a less drastic, less harmful outcome when mining. This (emission of carbon dioxide) is the main focus of attention today, since it is implicated in global warming, and a series of international agreements require that emissions decline, all while the demand for energy is still increasing.
But let me not confuse readers with my explanation, this doesn't necessarily mean that I don't believe in the 'clean coal' concept per say. Like any other process that involves collecting our natural resources for daily use, there will always be one method that might be better or safer than the other. However, labeling it as clean coal seems very misleading. When speaking in literal terms, there isn't any 'clean' coal out there that won't emit anything harmful in the air. But there most definitely might be ways of mining and processing coal so that less of those harmful chemicals or gases will be released. This serves as a perfect example of why this topic can be considered as so controversial and out right confusing. So, in the end, 'clean coal' might be a myth, but the effects are a harsh reality we are continuing to face and look for solutions to.
Sources:
Grossman, David. “Everything You Need to Know about Clean Coal.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 1 Aug. 2022, https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/news/a27886/how-does-clean-coal-work/.
Kuchta, David M. “What Is Clean Coal Technology? Overview, History, Carbon Emissions.” Treehugger, Treehugger, 2 Sept. 2022, https://www.treehugger.com/what-is-clean-coal-technology-5200812.
Plumer, B. (2017, August 23). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/climate/what-clean-coal-is-and-isnt.html
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