We have coal. Lots of it. But, some of it is dirtier than others. In East Texas, I think we have the dirtier coal (high sulfur content), which requires more scrubbing or results in more pollution.
But, don't we have a huge amount of low-sulfur coal in the upper Midwest and Western states? The same stuff that Clinton put off-limits by executive order?
Is there really a huge difference in the emissions? If so, wouldn't it be more efficient to build the power plants right on the edge of the coal deposits and feed the power into the grid?
I am an electrical engineer, specialized in power systems, working for the oil/gas industry from a family of coal miners. I took some nuclear engineering course in college but in the early 80's this looked like a dead end. Most of my "hobby" time is consumed reading energy news.
We have coal. Lots of it. But, some of it is dirtier than others. In East Texas, I think we have the dirtier coal (high sulfur content), which requires more scrubbing or results in more pollution.
The lignite we have in Texas could be (and is) described as "dirt that burns". It has a lower energy per volume rate compared to most coals.
But, don't we have a huge amount of low-sulfur coal in the upper Midwest and Western states?
There is a lot of that left in the Midwest that is not all that low in sulfur. In the huge powder river basin is a large lower sulfur coal (sub-bituminous) that has a lower BTU content than the Midwest bituminous coal.
The same stuff that Clinton put off-limits by executive order? I believe you are referring to the Executive Order designating 1.7 million acres of land in southwest Utah as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Is there really a huge difference in the emissions?
In terms of sulfur emissions, yes. This was the acid-rain concerns back at the 70's or so that shut down a lot of Ohio and other Midwest coal mines.
If so, wouldn't it be more efficient to build the power plants right on the edge of the coal deposits and feed the power into the grid?
Some of that is done, like with the Texas lignite mines where the volume of "coal" to be moved is so great compared to the energy produced.
But you can move a lot of coal by train fairly cost effectively. The advantage of coal fuel is you don't have to build pressure containing vessels or the like to store a 30 day supply. The market is pretty good at coming to the least cost solution without government interference.
I should have added I worked in the electric power industry for a few years before I got too bored to stay with them. They develop people extremely knowledgeable in narrow areas of specialty related to their work, typically.
The idea of spending 20 years doing something like transmission line relaying, terrified me.
As a consulting engineer, our goal is to work ourselves out of a job to go on to the next one. We are hired by oil/gas companies to build facilities. We engineer/design a facility, specify and procure equipment and assist with construction. Most of the construction assistance is answer questions either due to our own mistakes, changes from vendor supplied equipment, making design changes due to forced changes during construction, etc.
It means every job has a defined ending. It usually only last longer than that because it is going badly. Doing very good work shortens the length of time the job will keep you employed. For some, this is terrifying; they need more perceived security. Over time I figured out that you make your own security by being good at what you do. Sometimes I didn't do so well and my time got cut short. Sometimes my personal attitude was the biggest problem. Sometimes I moved from companies that would have kept me for the next project but I was eager to lead another big job started by someone else.
By having many different clients and working different types of facilities, we learn a lot of different ways of accomplishing design requirements. Good consulting engineering companies get a lot of repeat business. Bad ones get a lot of different clients before closing.
I've enjoyed the travel it has given me. I don't like the time it takes away from the family. I really enjoy getting to visit new places. It makes for some interesting personal conflicts. It sure is not for everyone.