What type of facilities are needed to introduce coal as a main energy source for...

[Abbie]

...a town? Sorry if the question didn't make much sense.

I have a science project due soon. I'm a representative for a company that is trying to introduce coal as a main energy source for an imaginary town. I'm trying to convince the town council that my energy source is better than the others(solar, hydro, biomass, fuel cells, natural gas) and that they should spend the money and time to fund the facilities. I already have the environmental impact and such down; I know about things like clean coal technology, land reclamation, and others that will help keeps things clean and help convince people in the town to accept coal.

What I DON'T know about are the different facilities that will be needed to make coal the main energy source for this town. The town wants to be able to make their own energy, so they will need their own facilities. I also need the cost of these facilities, cost of coal in comparison tot he other energy sources(per kilowatt hour) and what types of jobs that will be introduced(the town currently has a 10% unemployment rate).

Sorry that this is a lot.. (I have a partner who hasn't done any work, and the project is due soon. I wont let him give me a bad grade.) It's due before the 6th of December, 2010, but we're preparing for the presentation tomorrow so I really need to get as much work done as I can tonight. PLEASE, any help at all will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[roderick_young]

Coal needs the infrastructure to bring the fuel from the mines to the town. Otherwise, the delivery cost is going to nullify the basic cost of the fuel, which is coal's main advantage. Being right on the railway line is usually the best. Shipping over water costs even less, but getting from the mines to the water, and the water to the town's generating plant, would be a problem.

The main use for coal would be to generate electricity. You'll have an uphill battle convincing people to use it as a motor vehicle fuel, and even for heating would be a rough sell. So-called clean coal is not really clean. Your competitors will kill you if you try to say coal is cleaner than their energy source. About all you can say is that it's clean *enough*, and given how cheap it is, it's a good deal.