Coal is a comparatively stable material
It does not present leakage and spillage problems associated with oil and gas. Disasters involving coal-carrying ships are not a source of pollution. There is no safer energy source when handled and used correctly.
Source: World Coal Institute

A healthy balance between the environment and the economy is both possible and necessary.

The industry continues to promote technologies that meet the growing demand for electricity while simultaneously protecting the environment. Yet it is only through policies based on sound science and reasoned economics that the industry will be able to continue to build on its record of real environmental progress.
Source: Coalition for Affordable and Reliable Energy

A process called “gasification” allows many of the impurities in coal to be removed before it is combusted to generate electricity
Instead of directly burning coal, like traditional plants, the coal is gasified. As a gas, almost all pollutant-forming impurities can be removed. The coal gas can be made clean and burned in a gas turbine-generator. The turbine exhaust is then used to power a steam turbine-generator. This combination allows coal to be used more efficiently than ever before.
Source: Department of Energy

Gasification allows the coal to burn more efficiently and obtain more energy than traditional plants when using the same amount of coal
Gasification plants built near Tampa, Florida, and West Terre Haute, Indiana, are the cleanest, most efficient coal plants in the world.
Source: Department of Energy

Our overall air quality is better now than it was 30 years ago.
Part of this success is due to efforts by the coal-based electricity industry to reduce emissions.
Source: Coalition for Affordable and Reliable Energy

Coal is increasingly less polluting
Coal consumption trends to lower sulfur coal and sulfur dioxide emissions from U.S. coal-fired power plants have declined by more than 20% since 1970. This comes as a result of improved technology even as coal consumption for domestic electric power has almost tripled.
Source: Coalition for Affordable and Reliable Electricity

Clean coal technologies represent a new class of pollution control and power generating processes
These processes reduce air emissions and lower greenhouse gases to a fraction of the levels of conventional coal-burning plants. They also boost power plant efficiencies and release carbon gases in a form that can be prevented from entering the atmosphere.
Source: Department of Energy

A new green technology that will produce 100,000 metric tons of iron nuggets per year has been given a green light.

Carbontec Energy Corp. is going to use the residue left behind from sugar beets, wood chips and other biomass to make iron ore in Jamestown, North Dakota.

The company says that is the technology “. . . could substantially reduce the CO2, SOx, NOx and mercury emissions that are related to coke oven and blast furnace pig iron production, worldwide.”

The first phase of the project will cost $60 million to build. Expected annual revenue is $50 million. The new manufacturing plant will be 80,000 square feet and will open next year.

The company eventually expects to expand to 300,000 tons per year.

The nuggets will be 95-96% iron.

The company, which has patented the process, says it took five years of research. John Simmons, chairman of Carbontec Energy Corporation, says the process is carbon neutral since the plant uses biomass instead of coal.

The plant will use iron ore concentrate from northern Minnesota.

[http://www.mining.com/this-iron-maker-will-use-sugar-beets-not-coal-17103/]