By Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Coal is one of the world's most abundant and inexpensive fuels for power generation. Americans rely on burning coal for approximately 50 percent of our electricity.
Unfortunately, burning coal results in air and water pollution, and it releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. In fact, electric generation is responsible for more than one-third of our carbon dioxide emissions. Every year air pollutants coming from older, coal-fired power plants contribute to illness and premature deaths due to asthma and heart disease.
As we look to the future, we have a responsibility to promote clean, sustainable energy supplies and aggressive energy conservation measures. While some alternative energy and conservation technologies are nearing maturity, a number still need major technological advances.
While we transition to these new renewable energy and conservation technologies, coal will continue to be a mainstay of our energy supply. Though we must continue using coal, we can choose how to burn it. By developing and using advanced technologies, we can burn coal in a cleaner, more efficient manner, getting the most energy out of every lump of coal we burn.
Global problem, opportunity
Coal is widely used throughout the world. This creates a global environmental problem, but also presents us with a global market opportunity. Employing advanced technologies will create jobs and expand the pollution-control business — an area we are poised to lead.
As chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, I've been working in a bipartisan way to make sure the programs to support development and commercialization of these technologies are as diverse and robust as necessary to meet these challenges.
Last December, the president signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This legislation authorized research, development and demonstration programs to advance a broad range of energy technologies, including electric storage technologies, such as the development of bigger, better batteries. During off-peak times like at night, our electric plants generate more electricity than is being used. If we can store electricity for use during the times of peak demand, we can make our electricity go further.
The law also expanded the availability of funding for the development of carbon capture and sequestration technologies, which will allow us to use coal in a cleaner way by capturing and storing carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. In addition, the energy bill increased our investments to improve the energy efficiency of everyday appliances.
Congress is preparing to move forward legislation to reduce the effects of climate change and regulate greenhouse gas emissions, such as those produced from coal. I believe that it's smart to plot an energy strategy for the U.S. that is sensible, meaningful and will effectively accelerate development of a whole range of advanced energy and environmental technologies.
That's why I'm working to make sure Congress continues to do its homework on energy efficiency and that ultimately, we form a solid plan that makes tackling the challenges ahead within our reach.
