Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #RefinedCoal
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New @rff working paper w/ @AlanKrupnick! Have you heard of the ~$1 billion federal subsidy for burning coal? It’s a $7/ton tax credit for the use of “refined coal”, which is normal coal that has been sprayed with chemicals meant to make it burn cleaner. But does it work? 1/22
First, some background: refined coal barely existed in the U.S. 10 years ago, but now it makes up more than 20% of power sector coal & growing. At least 140 million tons of this stuff was burned in 2018 (see EIA Form 923). $7/ton * 140 mln tons = ~$1 billion in tax credits! 2/22 
Now about the tax law: the statute requires that, to be eligible for the $7/ton credit, companies must demonstrate that the refining process reduces NOx emission rates by 20% and SO2 or mercury rates by 40%. Less pollution sounds great! But… 3/22
