What is coal used for? | Geological Survey
Coal is primarily used as fuel to generate electric power in the United States. In coalfired power plants, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, or lignite is burned. The heat produced by the combustion of the coal is used to convert water into highpressure steam, which drives a turbine, which produces electricity. In 2019, about 23 percent of all electricity in the United States was ...