Coal, in 1900, supplied nearly 90% of United States energy demand, but only 23% in 1965. Oil and gas, which together contributed 8% in 1900, accounted for 73% in 1965. Nuclear energy is expected to contribute 5% of demand in 1980 but fossil fuel production will continue to grow, with coal consumption increasing from 470 million tons in 1965 to 750 million tons in 1980; natural gas increasing from 16 Tcf. in 1965 to 25 Tcf. in 1980; and oil increasing from 4 billion bbls. in 1965 to 6.7 billion bbls. in 1980.

Despite the inroads of nuclear fuels, electricity generation will account almost entirely for the tonnage increase in coal consumption during this period. To secure this increase, research and development activities are being intensified to lower the cost of the delivered coal and to effect improvements in the combustion of coal in conventional thermal power stations. Ash deposits and corrosion are under intensive investigation, as are economical means for abating the emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds and fly ash that contribute to atmospheric pollution. Studies in progress on the location of power plants over the coal measures include means of economizing on water requirements and on long-distance power transmission. Coal-fired gas turbines and magneto-hydrodynamics are acti ely being investigated. Methods to improve the production of coke, char, and chemicals from coal carbonization are studied continuously.

The increasing consumption of oil and natural gas is expected to create pressure on domestic supply by 1980. The gap between supply and demand in the period beyond 1980 may be filled in part by substitution of electricity for gas and by synthetic oil and pipeline gas derived from coal or oil shale. Research activities

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in these fields have been in progress for more than 2 decades, and, with the aid of Federal funds, now are expanding at a rate designed to insure adequate supplies of oil and gas at low cost in the future. Synthetic oil processes under development include a variety of coal-hydrogenation and gas-synthesis processes. To supplement natural gas, several processes are being studied for pipeline gas production by means of hydrogasification, or by partial or total gasification of the coal and converting the synthesis gas to high-BTU pipeline gas.

In support of these and many and other coal-utilization development activities, fundamental studies are conducted in many universities, research institutes, and private and government laboratories.

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