Coal or clean air

If the EPA decides to require coal utilities to cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 90%, it may jeoparadize almost $250 million worth of research and development on techniques to remove pollutants from coal before or during combustion. The Department of Energy (DOE) feels that present solvent-refined-coal (SRC) and fluidized-bed-combustion techniques can economically remove 75-80% of the sulfur in coal; and has asked that EPA grant their new-technology programs a blanket exemption from new standards in order to avoid a cost increase of as much as $150 million to redesign coal projects for lower emissions. EPA is considering either relaxing emission standards or setting guidelines and checking periodically on DOE's progress in meeting them. According to R. Zeren (Electr. Power Res. Inst.), SRC is based on eliminating the need for costly stack scrubbers. According to M. Neuworth (Dep. Energy), some coals can be made into SRC that can meet a 90% emission cut, but many other types can not.