Displacing Coal with Generation from Existing Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants
"Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants is a focus of many proposals for cutting
greenhouse gas emissions. One option is to replace some coal power with natural gas generation,
a relatively low carbon source of electricity, by increasing the power output from currently
underutilized natural gas plants.

This report provides an overview of the issues involved in displacing coal-fired generation with
electricity from existing natural gas plants. This is a complex subject and the report does not seek to provide definitive answers. The report aims to highlight the key issues that Congress may want to consider in deciding whether to rely on, and encourage, displacement of coal-fired electricity with power from existing natural gas plants.

The report finds that the potential for displacing coal by making greater use of existing gas-
fired power plants depends on numerous factors. These include:
• The amount of excess natural gas-fired generating capacity available.
• The current operating patterns of coal and gas plants, and the amount of
flexibility power system operators have for changing those patterns.
• Whether or not the transmission grid can deliver power from existing gas power
plants to loads currently served by coal plants.
• Whether there is sufficient natural gas supply, and pipeline and gas storage
capacity, to deliver large amounts of additional fuel to gas-fired power plants..."