RESPONSE OF THE CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE TO MIT’S “FUTURE OF COAL” STUDY

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the MIT "Future of Coal" study relies on outdated data and ignores the commercial availability of carbon capture for IGCC plants. CATF contends that IGCC is a superior alternative to pulverized coal (PC) due to lower emissions of criteria pollutants and a significant cost advantage when 90% carbon capture is implemented. The document highlights that while PC carbon capture remains speculative, IGCC carbon capture is a "commercially proven process." CATF warns that following MIT's recommendation to build efficient PC plants today could lock in high global emissions, particularly in China, and instead advocates for banning new coal combustion plants in favor of rapidly commercializing advanced gasification and geologic storage.

• CATF supports the MIT study's recommendations regarding the need for a federal 'road map' and funding for geological carbon dioxide sequestration (GCS), as well as the recommendation against 'grandfathering' CO2 emissions for coal plants currently under construction.
• While IGCC plants have higher capital and electricity costs than pulverized coal (PC) without carbon capture, the cost advantage reverses when 90% carbon capture is included: IGCC is 13% cheaper to build and the cost of electricity is nearly 20% lower than PC.
• CATF argues that the MIT study's conclusions on IGCC costs and performance for low-rank coals are obsolete because they failed to consider new commercial packages from Siemens and Mitsubishi, as well as new fuel feeder pump technology from GE Energy.
• Carbon capture for pulverized coal (PC) plants is not yet commercially available, with oxyfuel combustion still in its infancy (largest unit is 1.5 MW thermal in Ohio), whereas carbon capture for IGCC is a proven, commercially available technology used for decades worldwide.
• The MIT study omitted the option of partial carbon dioxide capture (between 10% and 50%) for IGCC plants, which CATF claims provides a cost-effective hedge against future regulations and creates early experience with storage formations.
• Contrary to MIT's implication that high-hydrogen syngas turbines present extreme engineering challenges, GE Energy reports that 24 turbines are already operating with hydrogen content above 50%, including some with 85%-97% hydrogen since 1997.
• CATF warns that relying on future, undeveloped carbon capture for PC plants is an "unwise bet" given that world pulverized coal construction through 2030 could add 1.5 to 2 Gigatons of carbon emissions per year, largely driven by construction in China.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2007). RESPONSE OF THE CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE TO MIT’S “FUTURE OF COAL” STUDY. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093448/200707-CATF_Response_to_MIT_Study.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. RESPONSE OF THE CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE TO MIT’S “FUTURE OF COAL” STUDY. 2007. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093448/200707-CATF_Response_to_MIT_Study.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=RESPONSE OF THE CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE TO MIT’S “FUTURE OF COAL” STUDY |date=July 2007 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093448/200707-CATF_Response_to_MIT_Study.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cleanairtaskforce2007response, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{RESPONSE OF THE CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE TO MIT’S “FUTURE OF COAL” STUDY}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2007}, month = jul, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093448/200707-CATF_Response_to_MIT_Study.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }