Coal Plants: Reducing Pollution, Improving Environmental Impact

Coal-fired power plants have been linked to a range of environmental and public health issues, including asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, acid rain, and global warming. In recognition of these issues, many countries are gradually replacing coal with cleaner sources of electricity generation. However, coal still supplies just over a third of global electricity generation and will continue to be crucial for iron and steel production until newer technologies emerge.

To reduce pollution, governments and the coal industry are developing and deploying less polluting and more efficient technologies, such as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). While CCUS technologies have faced challenges due to economic viability and external factors, they hold potential for reducing carbon emissions.

The transition away from coal is essential for mitigating its worst impacts, and efforts are being made to ensure a just transition for coal-dependent regions and workers.

The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act

The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act have played a crucial role in reducing pollution from coal plants and protecting public health and the environment.

The Clean Air Act:

The Clean Air Act requires industries, including coal-fired power plants, to reduce pollutants released into the air. This has led to the development and implementation of various technologies and practices to minimize emissions. For example, power plants use flue gas desulfurization equipment, or scrubbers, to remove sulfur from smoke before it exits their smokestacks. Additionally, the act has encouraged the use of low-sulfur coal and the adoption of more efficient coal-burning techniques, reducing the amount of coal burned per unit of energy produced. These measures not only reduce sulfur dioxide emissions but also help decrease the release of other harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and mercury.

The Clean Water Act:

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law in the United States that addresses water pollution. It establishes a framework for regulating the discharge of pollutants into the nation's waters and sets standards for surface water quality. The CWA introduced the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), a permit system that controls discharges from industrial, municipal, and other facilities. Through the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented pollution control programs, such as setting wastewater standards for industries, and developed national water quality criteria.

The Clean Water Act has been instrumental in reducing water pollution from coal-fired power plants, which produce over 100 million tons of coal ash annually. By enforcing regulations and permitting requirements, the CWA helps prevent coal ash and other contaminants from entering lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water supplies.

Both the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act have been crucial in mitigating the environmental and public health impacts of coal-fired power plants, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for communities across the United States.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

CCS involves capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes, such as steel and cement production, or from burning fossil fuels in power generation. The CO2 is then transported via ship or pipeline and stored deep underground in geological formations.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted that, to achieve the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and limit future temperature increases to 1.5°C, we must deploy technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and CCS is one of these technologies.

CCS has been in operation since 1972 in the US, where several natural gas plants in Texas have captured and stored more than 200 million tons of CO2 underground. As of 2024, CCS was in operation at 44 plants worldwide, capturing about one-thousandth of greenhouse gas emissions.

CCS could have a critical but limited role in reducing emissions. It is envisioned to be most useful in specific niches, such as heavy industry and plant retrofits. In electricity generation and hydrogen production, CCS is seen as complementary to a broader shift to renewable energy.

The effectiveness of CCS in reducing carbon emissions depends on the plant's capture efficiency, the additional energy used for CCS itself, leakage, and business and technical issues. Some large CCS implementations have sequestered far less CO2 than originally expected.

There is also controversy over whether CCS is beneficial for the climate if the CO2 is used to extract more oil. Many environmental groups regard CCS as an unproven, expensive technology that will perpetuate dependence on fossil fuels. They believe other ways to reduce emissions are more effective and that CCS is a distraction.

Air pollution and health

Air pollution is considered the world's largest environmental health threat, causing nearly 4 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. It is a major, preventable, and manageable threat to people's health, well-being, and sustainable development. It affects everyone, but the adverse impacts are more heavily felt by vulnerable populations such as children, women, and people living in poverty.

Air pollution causes and exacerbates a range of diseases, including asthma, cancer, pulmonary illnesses, heart disease, and neurological problems. It also contributes to global warming, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the primary greenhouse gas produced from burning fossil fuels like coal.

Coal-fired power plants are a significant source of air pollution, releasing toxins and pollutants such as mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter when burned. These emissions have severe environmental and public health impacts, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, brain damage, and premature death.

The health effects of air pollution are well-established, and reducing air pollution is crucial for preventing morbidity and premature mortality. It is essential to prioritize clean air initiatives and transition to cleaner energy sources to mitigate the impact of air pollution on human health and the environment.

Water pollution

Coal plants have a significant impact on water pollution, and their effect on local water supplies can be devastating. The Clean Water Act requires industries, including coal plants, to reduce pollutants released into the water. However, coal plants continue to contaminate lakes, rivers, streams, and drinking water supplies.

Acid Mine Drainage

The process of extracting coal through mining operations can contaminate nearby water sources through a process called acid mine drainage. This occurs when exposed iron sulfide reacts with air and water, creating highly acidic water that contains heavy metals like arsenic, copper, and lead. This acidic runoff can change the pH of nearby streams, making them as acidic as vinegar.

Mountain Top Removal

Mountain top removal is a destructive form of coal mining that involves flattening entire mountains to access thin coal seams. This practice has buried over 2,000 miles of headwater streams and polluted many more. The resulting debris is dumped into valleys, changing the landscape and harming aquatic wildlife downstream.

Coal Ash

Coal-fired power plants produce more than 100 million tons of coal ash annually, containing toxic elements like arsenic, lead, and mercury. About a third of this waste is reused, while the rest is often stored in unlined ponds or pits, where heavy metals can escape into nearby waterways and drinking water supplies. Coal ash exposure is linked to increased risks of cancer, heart damage, reproductive issues, and neurological disorders.

Thermal Pollution

Coal plants rely on water for cooling, and "once-through" plants discharge heated wastewater back into water sources, creating thermal pollution. This warmer water can decrease fertility and increase heart rates in fish.

Energy-Water Collisions

As the climate warms, coal plants may face challenges due to droughts and hot weather, leading to potential shutdowns or reduced electricity production when it is most needed.

While efforts are being made to reduce water pollution from coal plants, the impact on water sources remains significant, posing risks to both the environment and human health.

Global warming

When coal is burned, it releases carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that warms the Earth's surface. The more carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, the more the Earth's temperature rises. This leads to a range of consequences, including:

• Rising temperatures
• Accelerating sea level rise
• Drought
• Heatwaves
• Heavy rainfall and intensified storms
• Species loss

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that in 2018, power plants fueled by coal emitted record-high levels of carbon dioxide. This was driven by an increase in global energy demand due to economic growth, particularly in China, the United States, and India.

To slow down or stop global warming, it is essential to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and transition to renewable, carbon-free energy sources. While some countries are phasing out coal, others, especially in Asia, are increasing their use of coal. Overall, global carbon emissions continue to rise, and urgent, large-scale action is needed to address this issue.

Frequently asked questions