AEP chief: Coal's elimination 'just not going to happen'

[wtmusic]

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Although the amount of energy produced by coal will decrease in the nation -- from 45 percent today to 39 percent by 2020 -- a top electric utility company CEO said there is definitely a future for coal.

"Coal is naturally going to come down, natural gas will be the choice, but they're really marginal," said Nick Akins, president and chief executive officer of American Electric Power. 'Once technology is proven, you'll start to see coal come back. We still need coal . . . . If someone is trying to eliminate that, it's just not going to happen.'

Akins addressed an audience of more than 100 people at the University of Charleston Tuesday night for the UC Speaker Series event 'Energy: Who's Got the Power?' UC President Ed Welch moderated the discussion, which was sponsored by the Dow Chemical Foundation."

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/Business/201202070253

I guess that means there's a future for mountaintop removal as well.

[zipplewrath]

1. He's right

Of course he seems to be talking about the next 6 years, which isn't exactly visionary. He can dream about "clean coal" but there is no such thing really. We can make it marginally less damaging, but ultimately it's about as messy as nuclear, it just takes longer to make the mess.

But if we want to talk about the next 100 years, we are on a path to get rid of it. Coal makes a great power source that can be throttled. The smart grid will probably reduce some demand for throttle capability, and wind and solar may reduce the large demand for coal such that coals primary purpose is supplimental power. Gas and hydro electric could really undermine the coal market over the next 100 years. You could even see a rise in "dual fuel" power plants that run on either coal or gas.