America has the world's largest reserves of recoverable coal, providing the country with nearly a 235-year supply of secure, affordable domestic energy. Its abundance accounts for why coal generates nearly half of the nation's electricity — by far the largest share — and why coal remains the dominant fuel for electricity generation through 2035, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The development of a viable coal-to-liquid industry in the U.S. has the further potential to expand coal utilization beyond electricity generation to the transportation sector. Poly-generation plants can produce an even wider range of products.

Advances in clean coal technologies and more efficient combustion systems have enabled U.S. power plants to reduce their regulated emissions by more than 60 percent since 1970, while increasing electric power output over the same period by 140 percent. In fact, a new coal-fueled power plant today emits 90 percent fewer emissions than the typical plant it replaces built in the 1970s. Further emissions reductions are expected as new technology is developed and commercially deployed.

Backgrounder on U.S. Coal

Backgrounder on Clean Coal Technology

Backgrounder on Coal Ash