Coal is one of Ohio’s most valuable natural resources and has made a major contribution to the state’s economy. With robust deposits of coal, Ohio has a long history of coal production, becoming one of America’s largest coal-producing and -consuming states during the Industrial Revolution. Coal continues to be Ohio’s primary fuel source to generate electricity, currently used to produce 90% of the state’s electricity. (Source: EIA)
The Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO) was formed in 1984 to help fund the research, development, and deployment of new clean-coal technologies that can use Ohio’s vast reserves of high-sulfur coal in an economical, environmentally sound manner.
Today, Ohio has a reputation as a leader in clean-coal innovations and technologies which reduce air emissions associated with the burning of sulfur rich coal. The University of Akron has been recognized as a pioneer in Northeast Ohio for developments in carbon capture and storage technologies as well as the production of a prototype coal-powered fuel cell, which is cleaner and up to twice as efficient as current coal-burning processes. The University of Akron’s innovations have received significant support and funding from the National Science Foundation, FirstEnergy, Babcock & Wilcox and the State of Ohio.
To learn more about clean coal, visit the following resources: