At first glance, electricity seems to be the answer.  At a second glance, we must ask, “Who is the biggest user of coal today?”  After the second question is answered we may have a different opinion about the use of electricity.  A quick search will tell us that in the United States electrical power plants are the biggest users of coal followed by steel mills.  We further learn that about 23% of the world’s electricity is produced from coal.

I live in coal country, so we are aware of the pollution that is produced by the mining of the coal and the negative health outcomes such as black lung.  Burning the coal also produces some nasty by products.  Among these are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.  By products of coal combustion are harmful to the lungs.  Sulfur dioxide produces sulfuric acid when combined with the moisture in the air and produces acid rain which is detrimental to the growth of many plants.

We know that scrubbers and other technology can be employed to reduce the production of these harmful by products, but we also know that companies have found a way around compliance in the use of these devices.