A Bold Step Backward? Coal in the 21st Century

Coal seems to be here to stay for the 21st Century and coal burning is the major contributor to the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere resulting in the global warming.

Is there a way to reduce the carbon emmission by the coal-fired power plant? It seems that the only solution is carbon dioxide capture and then storing the carbon dioxide somewhere indefinitely.

I simply don't like this idea. Capturing tons and tons of carbon dioxide (in ga, liguid or solid state) is huge enginerring task. Such process is obviously energy intensive. I wonder what would the net gain.