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IDemo

(16,926 posts)
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 08:30 PM Jun 2014

Worldwide coal consumption reaches 44-year high

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) --As world leaders try to generate momentum for an international agreement on and solution to climate change, large amounts of coal continue to be produced and burned. In fact, coal consumption now accounts for more than 30 percent of the world's energy market -- its highest share in 44 years.

According to a recently released report, the "BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2014," coal consumption grew three percent in 2013 -- more than any other energy source.

That's a dip from coal's ten year average; consumption of the fuel has grown nearly 4 percent per year over the last decade.

It's bad news for those who had hoped alternative and renewable energy sources would cut into the dominance of dirtier, more traditional sources like coal. Although renewables continue to grow, especially wind and solar, they can't keep up with cheaper and more popular competitors like coal.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2014/06/16/Worldwide-coal-consumption-reaches-44-year-high/1341402950352/#ixzz34qs6RZfZ

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Worldwide coal consumption reaches 44-year high (Original Post) IDemo Jun 2014 OP
Unfortunately very true. Benton D Struckcheon Jun 2014 #1

Benton D Struckcheon

(2,347 posts)
1. Unfortunately very true.
Mon Jun 16, 2014, 09:22 PM
Jun 2014

We knew China and India coming on stream would do this. The point is to get other sources up fast enough to stop this trend. Going from zero on wind and solar you're not going to slow this down much in the early years, which is where we are now. Any sort of non-zero base to start from would have been better, but we were handed this by successive backwards-looking Republican admins, which killed the potential we had as the US to lead by a good example in line with the EU.
But in five years or so I think you'll see real progress against coal and other fossil fuels, principally nat gas, in electric generation. Both the US and China should see some interesting numbers over that time; the EU is already doing well and will continue I'm sure.
Not so sure about India, we'll see.

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