Will Natural Gas Really Profit from the Death of U.S. Coal?
Today, in its Energy Source blog, the Financial Times looked at the possibility of a broad switch from coal plants to natural gas power plants. It cites Bernstein Research as predicting that this shift will come despite uncertainty over greenhouse gas emissions regulation. In particular, existing provisions in the Clean Air Act are noted: the first that Eastern states are currently allowed to trade sulfur allowances among themselves—something that is likely to come under a state-by-state restriction next month, and second that plans to curb mercury emissions by insisting coal plants use the best technology available could mean that all coal plants would need to install sulfur dioxide scrubbers (at a cost that Bernstein Research considers “prohibitive.”) Ms. Mackenzie rightly highlights that “there are a few unknowns in this equation,” and that while regulations are broadly going ahead, “their exact execution isn’t certain.” Natural plant retirements are also highlighted as having a gre
Related Questions
- Our original low pressure Coal Fired Steam Boiler has been replaced by a Natural Gas Boiler; what should our system operating pressure be?
- Is natural gas electrical power generation going to push coal fired generators out of the market?
- Why did the plant switch from natural gas to coal as a kiln fuel source?
