Coal combustion by-products: Opportunities for utilization

The US produced 945 million short tons of coal in 1993 and possesses over 250 years (or 236.25 billion short tons) of coal reserves based on current production. Coal fuels about 57% of the electricity generated in the US compared to less than 10% each for natural gas, hydro and oil. This indicates that coal is and will continue to be an economical and available fuel well into the next century. A necessary effect of the use of coal as a fuel for electricity generation is the production of large quantities of solid by-products. If coal is to be the fuel for electricity generation in the new millennium, increased attention must be given to the opportunities for increased CCB use. This paper will offer an overview of current CCB production and use, explore the many opportunities for increased CCB use and discuss the impact of current and proposed government regulation on the use of CCBs.