Can coal become a clean source of energy?

It's the idea that coal—our oldest, dirtiest energy source—could be reshaped in a way that lets us keep using it without doing so much harm to the environment. But what is it, exactly? read more

Since mining coal is inherently dirty and burning coal is pretty much only economical if it’s also dirty, coal can never really become a clean source of energy, but we still should try to clean it up as best we can if we’re going to keep using it (and, as far as I know, there isn’t really a good alternative when it comes to making steel). read more

Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., recently wrote a New York Times op-ed piece calling for the United States to become the "Saudi Arabia of clean coal." U.S. energy secretary Steven Chu has called on his counterparts around the world to promote the "widespread affordable deployment" of clean-coal technology. read more

Coal is burned to produce steam that power turbines that create energy. It's by-product is carbon monoxide in very large quantities, thus, it is not considered a clean source of energy. Solar power, wind power, water power, and even human power are clean, renewable sources of energy. Hope this helps. read more