The construction of new coal-powered power plants in the US has now grinded to an almost complete standstill, because tighter carbon capture and storage regulations are in place in most states. And because most builders cannot afford the technology needed for sequestration, they simply prefer not to build the plant at all, which could prompt widespread power shortages throughout the country very soon. 

An ongoing rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels might be kept below harmful levels if emissions from coal are phased out within the next few decades, say researchers. They say that less plentiful oil and gas should be used sparingly as well, but that far greater supplies of coal mean that it must be the main target of reductions.

Total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 7,282 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO 2e) in 2007, an increase of 1.4 percent from the 2006 level according to Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2007. Since 1990, U.S. GHG emissions have grown at an average annual rate of 0.9 percent. 

Researchers have known that the animal feeding industry creates a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane and carbon dioxide. As the industry works to address this concern, scientists have tested various types of oil sprays to measure their effectiveness in reducing these emissions. The results show positive signs in reducing environmental impact.

Better house envelopes, more efficient energy supply systems, and use of biofuels for heating buildings would reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Europe. Buildings account for 36% of Sweden’s energy consumption, and many homes are still heated with electricity. Existing houses therefore have a key role to play in reducing the use of electricity in Sweden.

Researchers at MIT's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research have produced a report concerning key design issues of proposed "cap-and-trade" programs that are under consideration in the United States as a way of curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

The system relies on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to provide instant analysis of the elemental composition of coal as it is being burned. LIBS was developed by engineers at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., and at the Energy Research Company in Staten Island, N.Y. Slagging and related problems cost coal-fired power plants an estimated $2.4 billion each year.

Carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that has had the largest impact on our climate, will continue to rise even if current national and international targets for reducing emissions are met, scientists warn. But, they say, strong action taken now – such as the 80% target recently announced by the UK government – will continue to have benefits a long time into the future.

Not long ago, the world was dreaming of clean electric energy generated with the nuclear power plants, but you can't have nuclear power plants without nuclear fuel, can you? We're in the 21st century and we're pumping more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than ever, despite of all the international agreements signed over the years, stating that carbon dioxide emissions are to fall. As more and more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, the more severe the global warmin...

Coal may be a four-letter word for many environmentalists. But some researchers believe technology may yet salvage the concept of “clean coal.”