Coal to natural gas seasonal fuel switching: an option for acid rain control

An investigation is conducted of seasonal fuel-switching as a means to control SO₂ emissions. There is evidence that strategic control of emissions results in environmental improvements at a lower overall cost. The Electric Generation Expansion Analysis System (EGEAS) was used as the primary analytical tool for the study. The economics of gas substitution versus flue gas desulfurization technology was studied under a variety of economic conditions, taking into account initial capital investment, variable operating and maintenance costs, retrofit costs, pipelining costs, and a number of other factors. Natural gas substitution was found to be an economical means of efficient energy production combining low cost and significant emission reduction under a variety of conditions