ABSTRACT
In the United States coal-fired electric power plants generate the major portion of sulfur emissions, accounting for most of the approximately 57 percent of emissions attributable to electric utilities. Most states have plans to reduce sulfur emissions in the near term in conventional steam electric generation by regulating the type of fuel used. Solutions are characterized as determining the most efficient network of production, distribution and use for coal in steam-electric generating plants. The regional impacts of sulfur-reducing technology, which would permit current high sulfur coal production, are analyzed for their interaction with coal conversion and air quality. Regional air quality standards which limit average sulfur emissions from coal-fired power plants can have important interactions with the spatial location of production activities if a premium is placed on low sulfur emissions. Midwestern high sulfur coal cannot compete with Western coal with the probable operating costs for sulfur reducing technologies.
