The challenge to using coal in this country has been in finding cost effective ways to use our nation’s most abundant natural resource in a manner that meets our nation’s environmental goals, preserves our national energy security and provides low cost power and products for the American consumer. CURC believes that technology and technology innovation are critical to insure we meet that challenge. Through the use of technology, developed in cooperation with government and industry, that challenge has not been insurmountable. In the 1980s and 1990s, technologies were developed that significantly reduced the amount of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxide that are emitted from existing coal fired power plants while the amount of electricity generated from coal dramatically increased. 

Today, researchers are developing technologies to reduce the amount of mercury that is emitted from coal plants. The new challenge will be to continue to use this domestically produced, low cost resource in a carbon constrained world, while we cost-effectively meet our energy needs. 

In 2007, both Houses of Congress announced their intent to address the global issue of climate change by mandating reductions of greenhouse gases in the United States, and are currently considering legislative proposals to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. CURC’s position with respect to climate change is that technology is the key to ensure low cost and carbon friendly electricity from coal. CURC is developing a strategy that makes technology the center piece, and the solution, of the climate debate, and will work with Congress to insure incentives for advanced coal technology development, both in the near-term and the long-term, are included in any effort to regulate the emissions of carbon dioxide.  

To view more information about CURC's technology strategy, please view the following: