Assessment of the Springfield, Herrin, Danville, and Baker Coals in the Illinois Basin

摘要

More than 88 percent of the United States' yearly production of coal is consumed in the production of electricity by utilities (Energy Information Administration, 1998). Illinois Basin coals generally have higher sulfur contents, and higher contents of some of the elements of environmental concern, although they have higher calorific value. The production level in the Illinois Basin has been declining and is expected to decline further as electric utilities switch from high-sulfur Illinois Basin coal to low-sulfur Western U.S. coal. Other factors such as mining methods, beneficiation costs, transportation, coal combustion byproducts, and waste disposal may also affect future utilization. Also, a high percentage of Illinois Basin assessed coals resources are unavailable due to surface or subsurface land use restrictions and technologic restrictions. The future of coal utilization in the Illinois Basin depends on a careful evaluation of the coal distribution, resources, and quality. Therefore Illinois Basin coals may play a smaller role in supplying future United States energy needs unless technological advances can make them more economically and environmentally competitive with low sulfur western coal.