Re: Research Topics

[FMurrl@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/18/02 3:40:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kchisholm@ca.inter.net writes:


> What is the dollar cost to the environment in particular, and Society as a
> whole, for sulphur released with the combustin of coal? What is the true
> cost of an additional ton of fossil carbon in the biosphere? The same
> questions should be asked for nitrous oxides, hydrocarbon vapors, methane
> escape at the time of coal mining, etc...


Happy to be of some help here. The last time I checked, sulfur credits are trading in the US at around US$200 per ton of SO2 emitted. Carbon currently costs nothing in the US and up to $6000 per ton of CO2 emitted in other countries which tax or punish carbon emissions. NOx emissions credits trade in the US at US$2000 and up per ton of NOx emitted, depending on the year of the credit. Hydrocarbon vapors are not actively taxed in the US, nor are  spontaneous emissions of methane from coal mines-- but methane levels in mines is regulated strictly by MSHA.

Fred Murrell
Biomass Development
Bradenton Florida USA