42 USC § 13334 - Nonfuel use of coal

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s13334"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 13334 - Nonfuel use of coal"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "13334"
section_name: "Nonfuel use of coal"
chapter_number: 134
chapter_name: "ENERGY POLICY"
subchapter_number: "VI"
subchapter_name: "COAL"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1304, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2973.)"
---


# § 13334. Nonfuel use of coal

**(a)** **Program** The Secretary shall prepare a plan for and carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application with respect to technologies for the nonfuel use of coal, including—

**(1)** production of coke and other carbon products derived from coal;

**(2)** production of coal-derived, carbon-based chemical intermediates that are precursors of value-added chemicals and polymers;

**(3)** production of chemicals from coal-derived synthesis gas;

**(4)** coal treatment processes, including methodologies such as solvent-extraction techniques that produce low ash, low sulfur, coal-based chemical feedstocks; and

**(5)** waste utilization, including recovery, processing, and marketing of products derived from sulfur, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and ash from coal.

**(b)** **Plan contents** The plan described in subsection (a) shall address and evaluate—

**(1)** the known and potential processes for using coal in the creation of products in the chemical, utility, fuel, and carbon-based materials industries;

**(2)** the costs, benefits, and economic feasibility of using coal products in the chemical and materials industries, including value-added chemicals, carbon-based products, coke, and waste derived from coal;

**(3)** the economics of coproduction of products from coal in conjunction with the production of electric power, thermal energy, and fuel;

**(4)** the economics of the refining of coal and coal byproducts to produce nonfuel products;

**(5)** the economics of coal utilization in comparison with other feedstocks that might be used for the same purposes;

**(6)** the steps that can be taken by the public and private sectors to bring about commercialization of technologies developed under the program recommended; and

**(7)** the past development, current status, and future potential of coal products and processes associated with nonfuel uses of coal.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 102–486, title XIII, § 1304, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2973.)