Evaluation of coal availability in support of FEA prohibition orders under rounds one and two of ESECA. Final report. [Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974

Abstract

Under Section 2 of the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974 (ESECA), the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) has authority to issue orders prohibiting certain electric utility and industrial power plants from burning natural gas or petroleum products as their primary energy source. Prior to the issuance of an ESECA prohibition order, FEA is required to make several determinations for each candidate generating unit. Among these are that coal and coal transportation facilities will be available during the period the order is in effect. On the basis of the information presented in this report, it can be concluded that sufficient quantities of the technically appropriate types of uncommitted coal are potentially available during the next four years to those power plants that have already received or are being considered for coal conversion orders under the ESECA program. This conclusion has been verified on a site-specific basis for each power plant unit presently being considered by FEA for an ESECA prohibition order during round 2 of the ESECA program. The analysis performed for each candidate round 2 unit is discussed.