When I talk about coal it's primarily from the point of view of an investor and financial conservative. I simply don't understand this semi-religious attachment to coal for energy generation.
No investor in his right mind would invest in a new coal-fired plant built on the old 1920s technology that people champion here. It doesn't make sense. It's had its day. Even with massive government subsidies, they can't match an effective renewables and storage mix. And even without storage, they will still be running 24 hours day and making a profit for eight hours a day or less. It's inefficient, unprofitable, expensive to run and the remediation costs at the end of its lifespan are huge.
That's not to say that the there can't be next generation uses for coal. It's an amazing hydrocarbon with unique properties. But burning coal, or consuming coal to make steel, are low value-added processes. When you use specific types of coal to make, for instance, aerospace materials, automotive materials or construction materials, the value of that coal increases.
Use less. Use it smarter. Use the latest technologies. Make more money. And if it's good for the planet, that's great too.
