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Abundant Supply
The U.S. is
a coal-rich nation.
- The country
has more than 250 years of proven recoverable reserves (274
billion tons), 39 times the total known domestic reserves of
natural gas and 54 times the known reserves of oil.
| Source:
EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001, T.11.12, T.11.13
|
- On average,
the typical American uses about 20 pounds of coal per day (more
than 7,000 pounds per year).
| Source:
EIA, Monthly Energy Review, January 2003, T.6.2; Annual
Energy Review 2001, T. E1 |
U.S. Electricity Generation Fuel Mix
 |
|
Source:
EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001, T.8.2a
|
Electricity Potential from Proven Recoverable Reserves |
 |
Source:
EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001, with conversions
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- In 1980,
America used 569 million tons of coal to generate electricity.
By 2001 that grew to 966 million tons, a 70 percent increase.
| Source:
EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001, T.7.3 |
- If coal
were to be removed from the U.S. energy mix, existing energy demand
would require the equivalent of more than 200 average sized nuclear
plants.
| Source:
EIA, Annual Energy Review 2001; Electric Power Annual
2001 |
- Electricity
from coal improves energy security in America. As we rely more
on domestic energy resources like coal, we lessen our reliance
on imported oil and natural gas.
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