You've probably noticed the term "clean coal" bandied about a
lot lately. It's a great-sounding phrase, evoking images of
plentiful, cheap energy generated by squeaky-clean power plants
emitting a thin wisp of smoke that smells like a cross between a
field of daisies and freshly baked bread. If that's what you're
thinking, here's some bad news for you: there's no such thing as
clean coal. You're being subtly manipulated by those who would
like coal to remain the centerpiece of United States energy
policy for centuries to come. They have plenty of good reasons
for that. Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel, so it's cheap.
There's enough of the stuff in the U.S. to last us 154 more
years or longer. In the U.S., 49% of our electricity generation
comes from burning coal. And new coal plants are more efficient
than their predecessors, burning about a third less coal. Fire
up the Boiler, Full Speed Ahead There are 29 coal-fired power
plants under construction now, with another 110 on the way. Of
course, none of th