Finding a Place for Energy: Siting Coal Conversion Facilities. Resource Publications in Geography.

The process of identifying, licensing, and developing energy facility sites for the conversion of coal into more useful forms is the focus of this book, intended for geography students, professors, and researchers. The use of domestic coal resources will ameliorate U.S. dependency on imported fuel. However, because coal is a bulky, dirty fuel requiring more effort than most people accustomed to automated central heating systems are willing to expend, coal conversion is a virtual necessity. Chapter 1 discusses problems in energy facility siting. The impacts of coal conversion are examined in the second chapter. Specifically discussed are the components of coal conversion facilities: coal-fired power plants, coal liquefaction plants, and coal gasification plants; best-fit location planning; coal resource transportation systems; and the distribution of impacts. Chapter 3 looks at permits and approvals. The distinction between centralized and decentralized energy development strategies is the focus of the fourth chapter. How industrial location models can serve an important purpose in energy facility siting is discussed in the fifth chapter. Chapter 6 examines how to analyze siting options using site screening methods and spatial allocation models. Citizen involvement is also discussed. Adjusting patterns of development and regional shifts in energy supply are the topics of the concluding chapter. A bibliography is provided. (RM)