Why is Clean Coal Technology Potentially Disruptive?
Clean coal technologies would permit coal to function in a carbon constrained regulatory environment. The development of clean coal technologies is gaining momentum in coal rich nations, which include major economic and scientific powers, but it is not certain to succeed. At least two sets of circumstances could indicate that either the development or the failure to develop clean coal technology would be disruptive to US interests. If the United Statesand the world in generalhas a high expectation that clean coal technology will allow the continued or expanded use of coal as an energy source and this technology cannot be matured, the resulting environmental and economic impact could be a major challenge to US interests. Conversely, a successful accelerated and rapid deployment of clean coal technology could pose a major challenge to other (predominately oil) energy markets; the resulting geopolitical instability could also be a major challenge to US interests. The Energy Information Ad
