The U.S. holds approximately 25 percent of global coal reserves (275 billion tons) and at current consumption level, has a known 250-year supply — more coal than any other country in the world. This share of world coal reserves stands in sharp contrast to the U.S. share of world oil and natural gas reserves, which are estimated to be less than three percent. Despite the fact that coal is abundant and cheap in the U.S., public policies have discouraged its use because the air pollutant emissions from burning coal create serious environmental hazards. These emissions contribute to localized air pollution problems as well as global warming and conversion to natural gas provides a significantly cleaner alternative to combustion. (For further information on the bluegas™ process carbon footprint, please see the Environmental Profile page of this website.)

Vast Domestic Coal Reserves

Coal can be classified into four general ranks, determined by various traits including heating value, carbon content, and moisture. In order of lowest grade to highest, the ranks are lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite. About 90 percent of all coal produced in the U.S. falls in the bituminous and sub-bituminous categories which make ideal feedstocks for GreatPoint Energy’s bluegas™ process.

Bituminous coals, which are abundant in eastern and mid-continent coal fields, currently sell for $1.50 - $1.75 per MMBtu (million British thermal units); whereas prices for subbituminous coal and lignite, found in western and southern states, generally stay under $1.00 per MMBtu. This is some 80-95 percent less than oil and natural gas prices which are consistently above $7.00 per million Btu.

Not only is coal the United States’ single major natural energy resource it is also widely abundant worldwide.