Question

Here is a web site that talks about how much carbon dioxide is created when a ton of coal is burned. (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_carbon_dioxide_does_a_ton_of_coal_produce) (9) Look at that site, presume that the Mt. Tom power plant burned bituminous coal (as opposed to some other kind), and compute how many pounds of carbon dioxide per year were introduced into the atmosphere by the Mt. Tom coal-fired power plant. Wind farms that replace coal-fired power plants help reduce greenhouse gasses (carbon dioxide). Just as a comment: a maple or birch tree that is 25 years old will absorb about 3 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year, but this depends on the type of tree. A 25 year old white or red pine will absorb about 14 pounds per year. Deforestation in various places eliminates the natural ability of such trees to clean the atmosphere.

Answer 1

Answer - There are different varities of coal in the nature which contains different different percentage of carbon.

For Anthracite the carbon content is maximum of about greater than 85% ,for Bituminous type coal carbon content is between 45-85% ,for Subbituminous type coal carbon content is between 35-45% and for Lignite type coal carbon content is about 25-35%.When one ton of coal is burnt than about 5720 pounds of carbon dioxide is produce.

  

Pounds of CO2 emitted per million British thermal units (Btu) of energy for various fuels

Coal (anthracite)	228.6 pounds
Coal (bituminous)	205.7 pounds
Coal (lignite)	215.4 pounds
Coal (subbituminous)	214.3 pounds

so amount of co2 is a funtion of carbon content in the coal ..different tress have different ability to absorbe co2 gas from the environment per year.Age of trees also plays an important role for the absorption of co2 from the environment.

Mt. Tom coal-fired power plant produce about 5720 pounds of co2 per year in the environment.