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Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

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On a planet aspiring to become carbon neutral, the once-stalwart coal power plant is an emerging anachronism. It is true that, in much of the developing world, coal-fired capacity continues to grow. But in every corner of the globe, political and financial pressures are mounting to bury coal in the past.

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EIA: US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2012 lowest since 1994; reflects drop in coal use

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US energy-related CO 2 emissions in 2012 were the lowest since 1994, at 5.3 The largest drop in emissions in 2012 came from coal, which is used almost exclusively for electricity generation. EIA will publish a full analysis of 2012 energy-related CO 2 emissions later this year. Duke study.

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EIA: Monthly coal- and natural gas-fired generation in US equal for first time in April 2012

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Preliminary electric power data show that, for the first time since the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) began collecting the data, electricity generation from natural gas-fired plants is virtually equal to generation from coal-fired plants, with each fuel providing 32% of total generation. million megawatt-hours. Source: EIA.

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EIA: US rail traffic reflects increase in crude oil production, decrease in coal use; coal still dominant

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The record increase in US crude oil production during 2012 and the significant decline in coal use for domestic electricity generation were reflected in the movement of those two commodities by rail last year, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Change in number of railcar loads 2011-2012.

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Genscape reports January US coal-fired power generation up 8.9% above January 2012 levels; higher demand with cold-snap, higher gas prices, lower nuclear

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Genscape reported that January 2013 coal-fired power generation in the US surged 8.9% above January 2012 levels. to 350,554 GWh versus January 2012 levels. Both coal and gas-fired generation supplied the additional power needed for this increased demand with gas increasing its output by 1.7% This represented a 2.1

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EIA: US electricity generation from coal and natural gas both increased with summer heat

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In August 2012, coal produced 39% of US electricity, up from a low of 32% in April 2012, when the natural gas share of generation equaled that of coal. The August coal share of generation is still notably lower than the 50% annual average over the 1990-2010 period. Data for 2011 and 2012 are preliminary.

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Researchers in China investigate use of coal as source of lithium

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Coal could become a major source of the metal lithium, according to a review of the geochemistry by scientists from Hebei University of Engineering in China published in the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology. Indeed, the extraction of lithium from coal would offer an ironic twist to its continued use.

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