---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13334"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13334"
heading: "Nonfuel use of coal"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13334"
units:
  - "Chapter 134 — Energy Policy"
  - "Subchapter VI — Coal"
  - "Part A — Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application"
---

# §13334. Nonfuel use of coal

- (a) **Program—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) 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](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) 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)](#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.

## Source credit

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