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Affordable
Power
Electricity from
coal is affordable for three main reasons. First, America has abundant
domestic reserves of coal. Second, technology has improved production
efficiency, which keeps costs low. Finally, coal reserves are dispersed
throughout the U.S., which lowers transportation costs.
- On average,
coal-based generation is about one-quarter the cost of natural
gas-fired generation (per kWh consumed).
| Source:
EIA-759 Monthly Power Plant Report, FERC-423 Monthly Report
of Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants |
- A quality
fuel at the right price makes electricity from coal affordable.
In 2001, 18 out of 25 of the lowest cost steam power plants
(in terms of cost per MWh of electricity produced) were powered
by coal.
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