Category Archives: Coal

Set the planet on fire: Burn underground coal to gasify it. Worse than Fracking.

Posted on February 13, 2014 by

Fire in the hole: After fracking comes coal. 13 February 2014 by Fred Pearce. NewScientist. Setting fire to coal underground could answer our energy prayers, or start an environmental disaster on a bigger scale than ever before. Without a way to … Continue reading →

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Coal Power Plants stumped by Burning Wood

Posted on November 24, 2013 by

Power Plants Try Burning Wood With Coal to Cut Carbon Emissions.  Matt Wald. New York Times. November 3, 2013. There are many difficulties to burning wood in coal plants: Pound for pound, wood only produces 66% as much energy as … Continue reading →

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Peak Coal in America

Posted on November 4, 2013 by

Peak Coal: Will the US Run Out of Coal in 20 Years or 200 Years? “Most U.S. coal is buried too deeply to be mined at a profit.” U.S. coal production has peaked, and the miscalculations that have led to … Continue reading →

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Peak fossil fuels means global warming less than projected

Posted on July 15, 2013 by

This Science article states we could emit CO2 at the same rate we are now for another 50 years before going over the 2 degrees Celsius level we need to avoid a runaway greenhouse.  Since we are at peak world fossil … Continue reading →

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Peak Coal is already here or likely by 2020 — if true — IPCC 100 year projections too high?

Posted on January 8, 2013 by

November 2013.  Peak Coal in America.  This article makes the case we’ve got only 20 years of coal left, not 200 years. Paige, S. Oct 29, 2013. Peak Oil May Keep Catastrophic Climate Change in Check. Scientists suggest that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, CO2 and Methane, Coal, Global Warming, Runaway Greenhouse | 1 Comment

Coal: why it can’t easily substitute for oil

Posted on July 9, 2011 by

1) We’re at Peak Coal now: R. Heinberg. The End of Cheap Coal. Nature 468. 18 Nov 2010. T. Patzek. A global coal production forecast with multi-Hubbert cycle analysis.  Energy             35 (2010) 3109-3122 R. Heinberg. Blackout. Coal, Climate and … Continue reading →

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