The Future of Coal
About the Author
Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer since 2003, is leading AEP's efforts to develop:
1. An advanced interstate high-voltage transmission system that efficiently delivers wholesale power regionally within a competitive market while enhancing regional reliability;
2. Extra high-voltage transmission line projects with a number of joint venture partners in Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia;
3. Innovative carbon capture and storage systems at one or more AEP coal-powered generating plants; and
4. Energy efficiency and load demand reduction initiatives as well as integration of new intelligent distribution grid technologies to provide greater service quality, reliability and control of energy usage to customers.
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.
About This Video
Mike Morris, ceo, President and Chairman of American Electric Power discusses his views on the future of coal in america and the world.
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4 comments for "The Future of Coal".
1. No to coal
Coal costs me $50-100 a month because I can't eat local fish more than 1-wk from mercury poisoning by coal.
Nor does the large scale destruction of land, mountain tops, stream, river, water supply pollution make burning coal worth it. One would get much more energy by sustainably harvesting biomass from the same land area in many cases..
New coal plants are now over $4k/kw and wind, river/tidal and solar concentrating generators are all under that now and PV is closing in..
Facts are coal costs are rising and as soon they will have their full cost in them making them much more expensive than RE. Coal needs to be replaced as fast as possible by RE and eff/conservation for economic and pollution reasons.
2. Out with the old and in with the new
The old way was coal, when our technology was not as innovative and efficient as is is now. Now, we have good wind energy, and photovoltiecs, geothermal, and many other ways of producing energy that build on what we have and do not tear down generations of culture through mountaintop removal, or ruin peoples lives and health. I don't want your coal, as a citizen of Florida, and WV citizens don't want it either. Frankly, we want your coffers cleaned out, all your precious money, we want you to give that money to true clean energy, and we will remain, and have what is more ours than any company can truly own. You are the old, and your kind have ruined the Earth for my generation,We are the new, and many, and we will snuff you out.
3. Coal Reserves
At one point in the video he says there is 150 years of coal remaining at today's use rates. Later, he says that coal demand is going to continue to be increasing. If you consider coal use rates to be increasing, there is only an estimated 80 years of coal remaining, and 40 years of natural gas, and 60 years of oil. There are increasing studies that indicate worldwide we have overestimated even those numbers and fossil fuels will run out much more quickly than anyone expects. Saudi Arabia is having trouble maintaining its level of oil exports. We may run out in the next couple of decades. Carbon emissions will then become totally moot, and the major issue will become avoiding freezing to death.
4. Fossil Fuels are NON-RENEWABLE!
Thanks for bringing this up Harmon. I think people often forget that at some point these resources are going to run out. Maybe not in our lifetime, but our future generations are going to need more options than business as usual and "clean coal". Americans need basic energy education .