Is clean coal the answer to our energy needs?

As oil has become expensive, coal remains abundant and cheap. But something must be done to make it cleaner. So how far away are we from a solution, particularly in the energy-hungry American market?

Yes, coal prices have continued to rise across the globe. But of course, this pales in comparison to the continued run-up in petroleum, which has virtually paralyzed the wallets of many oil-reliant Americans.

The idea of a coal shortage is virtually unthinkable. We have roughly 275 billion tons of recoverable coal, enough for us to burn for the next two and a half centuries if we needed it. So while the next generation might not have the oil to run their cars and trucks, the lights at the house will stay on thanks to coal power.

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