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Brooke Juice
Dr. Semih Eser
Egee 101H
28 April 27
Overview of Coal as an Energy Source
Abstract
Coal has been used for thousands of years as a source of energy, and since its
introduction its uses have been greatly expanded. Coal has its benefitsfor example, it is
used to produce heat, electricity, and many different products. In addition to this, coal is very
cheap, which is why it continues to be used so frequently. However, coal also has negative
side effects when used. The process of mining itself can disturb the land, and when coal is
burned it gives off emissions such as carbon dioxide. The emissions that coal releases into the
air can pollute the Earth and lead to detrimental environmental damage. In fact, carbon
dioxide is a major reason for global climate change. When these pollutants go into the air,
they can harm the well-being of people and cause a number of health issues. In spite of its
merits and past success, it is time to take a serious look at what coal does as a source of
energy.
Introduction
As the worlds population continues to grow, so does the global need for energy. With
such a vast need, a large array of energy sources is necessitated. While over the centuries,
humans have turned to many different energy sources, they always come back to one source
in particularcoal. Coal is a popular source of energy around the world and its use has come
a long way since its humble beginnings in ancient China. While it was originally used for its

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ability to give off heat when burned, its use saw exponential growth at the turn of the 20th
century when it was utilized during the American industrial revolution and subsequent global
growth. Since then, its use has skyrocketed, and so have its effects. Coal, from the way it
affects our environment, economy, and progress, has shaped the way we carry out our daily
lives.
Literary Review
To understand why coal is used and used so frequently, one must first understand what
exactly coal is. Coal is a combustible rock that is either black or dark brown in color. This
rock comes from prehistoric decomposed plant matter that has been carbonized over millions
of years. Plants store all of the energy that they gather from the sun during photosynthesis
when they are alive. Once a plant dies, it will release the energy it has stored as it decays. The
way a plant decays and releases this energy is sometimes impeded on, which results in the
energy being restored rather than released. When plant energy is not released and millions of
years go by, coal is then formed. Because of the way coal is formed and what is made out of,
coal is commonly referred to as a fossil fuel (What Is Coal?).
Coal can be divided into four different categories- lignite, sub-bituminous,
bituminous, and anthracite. The category, or rank, that coal falls into is a representation of the
amount of time coal has been maturing as well as how much carbon it contains. These four
categories of coal all start off as what is known as peat, or rich soil that is made from organic
matter. From peat, coal will then with time, temperature, and pressure mature to lignite.
Lignite is the softest and lightest in color of the coal ranks. After lignite, coal will then mature
into sub-bituminous coal. This creates a change in the coals chemical make-up and physical
appearance, as it becomes harder and darker in color. Coal will continue to mature from the
sub-bituminous rank to the bituminous rank, which hardens the coal even more so. When coal

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reaches the end of maturity, it transforms into anthracite. This type is the hardest and the
shiniest compared to the other ranks of coal. The process of coal maturity is called
coalification (What Is Coal?) (Classification and Rank of Coal).
The use of coal began earlier in some parts of the world as opposed to others. For
example, it is recorded that coal was used in China earlier than 3,000 years ago. However, the
earliest recorded uncovering of coal in the United States was in 1679 in Illinois, with mining
businesses not starting until 1748 in Virginia (Coal Kentucky Education). The different
mining methods for gathering coal for use. There is underground mining and surface mining.
There are two types of underground mining, which include room-and-pillar mining and
longwall mining. The process of room-and-pillar mining requires miners to cut rooms or
hollow out sections deep beneath the Earths surface and leaving behind pillars. The rooms
that are cut out in order to extract the coal and have room to work and the pillars, or columns
of coal to support the hollowed space. Longwall mining is mechanized. Coal shearers are
used to cut long strips of coal at time. Unlike room-and-pillar mining, no support for the roof
is needed because once the coal strip is extracted, the roof the collapses and a miner will
move on to the next strip. Examples of strip mining include auger, contour, area, and
mountaintop removal. Surface mining take places of the Earths surface and entails extracting
coal in way that does not necessitate creating an underground mine to do so. Coal
rehabilitation is an important aspect of surface mining since working the areas where mining
takes place is temporary and the land will eventually need to be restored. Whether
underground or surface mining is used depends on the geological region and how the most
coal from a coal deposit can be extracted (What Is Coal?).
Coal became very popular in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries when
the Industrial Revolution was taking place. Throughout the industrial revolution, mechanical
innovations were rampant and an energy source was needed to fuel these machines

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(History.com Staff). Coal was ideal to use at this point in time because of how hot it was able
to burn, which we now know today that coal can burn at temperatures greater than 3500
degrees Fahrenheit. It fit the needs of people hundreds of years ago as an energy source. Even
though it was very popular in history, coal is by no means an outdated energy source, as coal
still continues to be used today (How Coal Works).
Discussion
In fact, coal is such a major energy source that it accounts for almost half of
Americas electricity (Our Energy Sources- Coal). Coal coverts its energy into electricity in
a 5 step process. First, coal is ground from its solid rock form until it is turned into powder
and then that the powder is what gets burned. Burning the powder creates heat and the heat
that is created is used to change H2O from its liquid form to steam. The steam, which is put
under a great deal of pressure is used to spin the blades located in a turbine, which is linked to
a generator. Within the turbine lies magnets inside of copper wire loops. When the turbine
spins, it causes the magnets to spin as well. Once the magnets are put into motion, the
electrons in the copper wire begin to move which causes an electrical current and overall
generating electricity (What Is Coal? - Origin Energy). However electricity is just one of
the uses of coal. Coal is also used as a fuel to produce heat in homes and businesses (Coal).
Steel production, the formation of cement, and creation of goods and chemicals from the
byproducts of coal are other examples of how coal is utilized around the world (What Is
Coal?) (Coal). According to the Coal Blue Project, in order to be a sustainable energy
source, that source must be abundant, affordable and reliable, all while minimizing adverse
impacts to the environment Coal is abundant, however there is also a limited supply of it.
Once all of the coal that is on Earth is gone, it is gone for good, making it nonrenewable
(Why Sustainable Coal?).

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Coal can have many negative impacts on our environment. Before the coal is even
used, it can still affect the planet. This is due to the way coal needs to be extracted. Coal
mines disturb the land on which they are located. Although coal rehabilitation is an option,
coal mines can be located in the same area for years and it can take years for a particular area
so be restored in its entirety. Not only do the mines directly disturb the land being used, but
runoff is also an issue. This is what is known as Acid Mine Drainage. The drainage can leave
the mine site and travel into rivers and streams, which harms the quality of water (Acid
Mine Drainage). In addition to this, when coal is burned it releases CO2, a greenhouse gas. A
greenhouse gas is any gas gets caught in the Earths atmosphere, and when this happens,
greenhouse gases prevent excess heat and energy from leaving Earths atmosphere and being
released into space. It is colorless, odorless and a by-product of combustion from all fossil
fuels. CO2 is a major contributor to climate change, which can have a range of effects. For
example, sea levels are predicted to rise (Our Energy Sources- Coal).
These environmental impacts that coal has can affect peoples health as well. Other
emissions from coal include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate
matter, and chemicals, such as lead and mercury. These air pollutants can affect peoples
respiratory systems, cardiovascular systems, and nervous systems. For the respiratory system,
when these chemicals are inhaled they go directly to the lungs, so lung disease and even lung
cancer can result. Diseases related to the cardiovascular system can also occur, as well as
artery blockages with the potential for heart attack. Pollutants from coal, like mercury, can
brain. In fact, researchers from physicians for social responsibility have estimated that up to
over half a million children are born in the U.S. each year with blood mercury levels high
enough to reduce IQ scores and cause lifelong loss of intelligence. Health issues can be seen
from these pollutants even hundreds of miles from the location where they are originally
released (Coal Pollution Damages Human Health). Besides health aspects, areas where

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people live can be harmed. As mentioned prior, sea levels are projected to continue to rise,
meaning that places currently inhabited might soon be submersed with water.
There are ways in which harmful effects from coal can be reduced, such as coal
washing and carbon taxes. Coal washing is required by most countries in the first few steps of
preparing coal for use. Washing it helps rid the coal of some of the harmful matter that would
found on it if it were not washed. By doing this, emissions from coal can be reduced, not
nearly completely, but enough to make a slight difference (What Is Coal?). Carbon taxes
also help to play a role in how many emissions are being released. The carbon tax is a
government impended policy designed to reduce carbon emissions by taxing places based on
how much carbon dioxide they release. This tax is in place in different countries to help
globally reduce the planets carbon footprint. A way of making clean coal is through a
process called carbon sequestration. Essentially, the coal is placed into a carbon sink, which
will prevent CO2 emissions by capturing the carbon before it even has the chance to reach the
air. The reason carbon sequestration is not done is because of how much money has to go into
the entire process. While this would solve problems with pollution, ultimately help the
environment, unfortunately, this is something that is not feasible (What's a Carbon Tax?).
Despite the environmental impacts and social consequences, coal still continues to be
used today. One of the major reasons for this is because of the price tag that goes along with
the use of coal. Although the process of making clean coal is very expensive, coal itself is
very cheap energy resource. It is cheap to extract, use, and buy. It is also cheaper than
alternative energy sources. The cost of coal also depends on the type of coal it is. As of 2013,
the cost of each was as follows per ton sold: subbituminous costing $14.86, lignite costing
$19.96, bituminous costing $60.61 and anthracite costing $87.82. The more expensive the
coal is, the higher of a heat content it possesses. The most can also depend on the area and
how far the coal must be transported (Coal Prices and Outlook). Coals biggest costumer is

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power plants who use coal to generate electricity. Coal fired power plants, according to the
World Coal Association, have a global average efficiency of only 33%. Economically, but
certainly not environmentally, it is the model energy source. Its cost is a leading factor as to
why it is used to make half of Americas electricity, continues to be used in other parts of the
world, and the top energy source for developing countries (What Is Coal?).
Conclusion
Since the days when it was only used as a source of heat, coal and its uses have come
a long way, and in the process, played a large role in shaping the modern world. Coal, among
other energy sources, has fueled the advancement of the world as a whole, and helped to
carry it into the modern age. While it has progressed with the times, there are sizeable
detriments that come with the current, widespread use of coal due to the emissions that it
creates. Examples to this are the damages done to the environment when mining or burning
the coal, which in turn can also harm peoples health. While coal rehabilitation, coal washing,
and carbon taxes make attempts to remedy the damage, they simply are not enough. Coal as
an energy source has shaped our lives today, however, due to the negative aspects of its use, it
may be time to consider a different primary global source of energy.

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Works Cited
Acid Mine Drainage. Ground Truth Trekking. N.p., 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Classification and Rank of Coal Classification and Rank of Coal. University of Kentucky, 1
Aug. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Coal. National Geographic Education. National Geographic, 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Coal Pollution Damages Human Health. Physicians for Social Responsibility. Physicians
for Social Responsibility, 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Coal Prices and Outlook. Energy Explained. U.S. Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 22 Apr.
2016.
History.com Staff. Industrial Revolution. History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009.
Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
How Coal Works. Union of Concerned Scientists. Union of Concerned Scientists, n.d.
Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Kentucky Coal Education Kentucky Coal Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016
Our Energy Sources- Coal. What You Need To Know About Energy. The National
Academy of Sciences, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
What's a Carbon Tax? Carbon Tax Center. Carbon Tax Center, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
What Is Coal? World Coal Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
What Is Coal? - Origin Energy. Origin Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
Why Sustainable Coal? Coal Blue Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

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