In our area of the country, coal is found in the Northeast and Central parts of Pennsylvania. Coal is usually transported around the country by railroads.The United States has a 250-year supply of coal; this represents more than 85 percent of the U.S. fossil energy reserves. Electricity from coal in the U.S. is affordable because it costs less than half that of generation from other fossil fuels.

The coal industry continues to work on making coal a cleaner energy resource. Emissions from coal-based plants have decreased by one-third in the past 30 years, even as coal used for electricity generation has nearly tripled.

Power Generation from Coal

1. A boiler contains the furnace where burning fuel (coal, oil, or natural gas) heats water to make steam.
2. A turbine changes steam's heat energy into mechanical energy. Steam pushes blades rotating on a bar, causing it to spin at a high speed.
3. A generator changes mechanical energy into electrical energy. The spinning bar of the turbine causes a huge magnet in the generator to rotate past copper bars producing electric current.

Martin's Creek Steam Electric Station

The Martin's Creek Steam Electric Station has two 150-megawatt, coal-fired units and two 800-megawatt units that can be fueled by either natural gas or oil. The plant can switch from one fuel source to another depending on the price of the fuel. The plant also has two cooling towers.

Other Coal-Fired Plants in Pennsylvania

Other Pennsylvania coal-fired plants include Montour Steam Electric Station (Montour County), Brunner Island Steam Electric Station (York County), Keystone Steam Electric Station (Armstrong and Indiana Counties), and Conemaugh Steam Electric Station (Indiana County).