Running head: Article Summary
Environmental Injustice of Clean Coal
SOCS 325 Environmental Sociology
DeVry University
Environmental Injustice of Clean Coal
Clean coal is the dirtiest of all the fossil fuels used as an alternate resource for many
industry advances, but mainly for power generation. It is also used for many other useful things
that most people are not aware of. Coal is used to break down & reduce the carbons in ore from
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, Running head: Article Summary 2
the earth’s crust, therefore making 70 percent of steel production dependent on coal (WCA,
2016). In addition, coal uses fly ash which is a byproduct of combustion in coal power plants, as
a supplemental resource for cement in concrete (WCA, 2016). With coal producing close to half
of global electricity, it isn’t any wonder why there is so much debate on what effect it is having
on our climate & the emissions it produces. This article specifies the intent to advance the
conversation of clean coal without answering the concerns of why the industry uses coal, but to
inform those on the way we currently use this alternate fossil fuel & the impact it has on our
environment now (Tyree, 2009).
Power generation plants use coal as a means of fuel by blowing the coal into the
combustion chamber igniting it, increasing the temperature within the chamber. As the
temperature increases, water flows through multiple metal tubes boiling the water, turning it into
steam. The steam is then carried through the tubs into a steam drum, where the steam is used to
turn steam powered turbine generators resulting in power generation. This electricity powers
homes within each area, but what happens after the coal is burnt? This is the controversy behind
the efficiency of coal usage.
Together with power generation facilities, emissions control is a large part of this process
in order to stay within regulatory limits, but not all emission particles are tested. These polluting
components include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, & mercury emissions. Sulfur dioxide is a
colorless gas & has a pungent smell that is similar to a match that has just been struck. This gas
is related to health concerns predominantly focused on particles collecting in the lungs & causing
respiratory distress & difficulty breathing (NIH, 2015). Nitrogen oxide is a greenhouse gas that
contributes to climate change & can cause respiratory issues, & reduce the amount of blood
being carried through the body(NIH, 2015). Mercury at high temperatures is colorless & in
This study source was downloaded by 100000845689434 from CourseHero.com on 05-19-2022 11:36:10 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/103111444/SOCS-325-Week-3-Article-Summary-Review-Discover-and-Commentdocx/
Environmental Injustice of Clean Coal
SOCS 325 Environmental Sociology
DeVry University
Environmental Injustice of Clean Coal
Clean coal is the dirtiest of all the fossil fuels used as an alternate resource for many
industry advances, but mainly for power generation. It is also used for many other useful things
that most people are not aware of. Coal is used to break down & reduce the carbons in ore from
This study source was downloaded by 100000845689434 from CourseHero.com on 05-19-2022 11:36:10 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/103111444/SOCS-325-Week-3-Article-Summary-Review-Discover-and-Commentdocx/
, Running head: Article Summary 2
the earth’s crust, therefore making 70 percent of steel production dependent on coal (WCA,
2016). In addition, coal uses fly ash which is a byproduct of combustion in coal power plants, as
a supplemental resource for cement in concrete (WCA, 2016). With coal producing close to half
of global electricity, it isn’t any wonder why there is so much debate on what effect it is having
on our climate & the emissions it produces. This article specifies the intent to advance the
conversation of clean coal without answering the concerns of why the industry uses coal, but to
inform those on the way we currently use this alternate fossil fuel & the impact it has on our
environment now (Tyree, 2009).
Power generation plants use coal as a means of fuel by blowing the coal into the
combustion chamber igniting it, increasing the temperature within the chamber. As the
temperature increases, water flows through multiple metal tubes boiling the water, turning it into
steam. The steam is then carried through the tubs into a steam drum, where the steam is used to
turn steam powered turbine generators resulting in power generation. This electricity powers
homes within each area, but what happens after the coal is burnt? This is the controversy behind
the efficiency of coal usage.
Together with power generation facilities, emissions control is a large part of this process
in order to stay within regulatory limits, but not all emission particles are tested. These polluting
components include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, & mercury emissions. Sulfur dioxide is a
colorless gas & has a pungent smell that is similar to a match that has just been struck. This gas
is related to health concerns predominantly focused on particles collecting in the lungs & causing
respiratory distress & difficulty breathing (NIH, 2015). Nitrogen oxide is a greenhouse gas that
contributes to climate change & can cause respiratory issues, & reduce the amount of blood
being carried through the body(NIH, 2015). Mercury at high temperatures is colorless & in
This study source was downloaded by 100000845689434 from CourseHero.com on 05-19-2022 11:36:10 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/103111444/SOCS-325-Week-3-Article-Summary-Review-Discover-and-Commentdocx/
