This is renewable energy blog post 200 of 200.

Coal plants. There are 18 of them in Alberta providing the majority of our power and making Alberta one of the dirtiest and most inefficient power producers in North America. What do we do with all of them? Well Green Inc., the New York Times excellent enegy and environment blog, pointed me towards a study by the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology suggesting that coal plants convert to biomass to produce cleaner energy.

Here's a quote

“The study results suggest that biomass utilization in coal generating stations should be considered for its potential to cost-effectively mitigate” greenhouse gases from coal-based electricity, the paper concluded.

The team tested the life-cycle emissions and costs of “co-firing” scenarios involving fuel with 10 to 20 percent wood pellet content.

Ontario co-sponsored the study as they're trying to phase out all coal plants by 2014. It's an interesting idea and considering the coal plants existing in Alberta a way to wring cleaner power and a longer life cycle out of these dirty, inefficient power generating plants.