It seems logical that coal would be used as the predominant non-renewable fuel of the future until other non-petroleum-based substitutes are fully developed. Coal burns cleaner, despite the false image that associates coal with the dingy, smog-choked air of the old coal-burning cities and towns, particularly during the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, according to The World Coal Institute (WCI), “technologies have been developed to improve the environmental performance of coal-use techniques” and that the efficient burning of coal-based fuels results in the release of fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. All fossil fuels produce greenhouse gases; but, greenhouse gases from coal contribute to less than 20% of any enhanced greenhouse effect.

Currently, coal is the primary source of fuel for electricity generation worldwide, according to WCI. Over 62 % of the world’s total coal production is used for about 40% of the world’s electricity. Coal also proivdes 35% of the world’s total energy needs.

Total world production of hard coal is about 5,339 metric tons, with China, the United States, India, South Africa, Australia and Russia topping the list of coal producers. Coal provides the majority of the electricity needs for countries such as Poland (93%), South Africa (93%), Australia (80%), People’s Republic of China (78%), Greece (58%), India (69%), Morrocco (69%), USA (50%), and Germany (47%).

If coal-based fuels could be relied on more heavily for domestic and commercial transportation, such as airlines and automobiles, all countries around the world can be confident that their coal-based energy resources would be secured, and dependency on the more centralized petroleum-based production industry would be significantly reduced. According to WCI, this would mean that our energy needs can be assured and prices would remain stable and competitive with other fuels. Scientists have confirmed that there is over 200 years of coal resource availability worldwide, far exceeding current known and available petroleum reserves.

“In terms of BTUs [British Thermal Unit - unit of measurement used to express the heat contained in energy resources] in the ground, there is plenty of coal,” said Dr. Schobert, professor of fuel science at Penn State Univeristy. “But the ‘killer issue’ on coal is that it produces more (carbon dioxide) emissions per BTU of energy than the other major fuels.” However, “technologies are available or under development to address (these issues).”

Still coal remains our safest, most viable and dependable energy resource to meet our enormous energy needs. When asked if there is any source of energy that could replace coal as our primary energy source within our lifetimes, Dr. Schobert replied, “There is only one: nuclear.” To many scientists and most consumers, however, nuclear energy is not a very attractive, safe nor plausible alternative.

Given the vast abundant availabilty of renewable natural resources, most significantly the sun, it appears that anything but a clear focus on development and use of our natural and renewable energy resources is the most practical. When you consider that every minute enough of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface to meet the world’s energy demands for a whole year, the path should be clear.