U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – independent statistics and analysis. Coal   and the environment – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2022, November 16). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/coal-and-the-environment.php 

Coal mining, particularly surface mining, has significant environmental impacts including changing and damaging the landscape, burying streams, and releasing pollutants and toxins into the water and air. Also underground mining has risks such as ground collapse and release of acidic water. Burning coal releases various harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, carbon dioxide, mercury, and ash residues. The U.S. government has imposed laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to reduce the pollution released. The coal industry has made efforts to reduce pollutants by using scrubbers and cleaning coal, while research is underway to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and mercury through carbon capture and sequestration methods.

 

In this article made by the U.S energy info administration complementary relates to our APES class/idea. In this article it gives us detailed information on how coal is extracted and the effect of mining it. Also mentions chemicals such as mercury and other hazardous material that would damage any biomass. In my opinion it’s progress that people are trying to create less emission with coal scrubber and using clean coal. So it’s becoming better over time.