To some, the concept of Clean Coal Technology is an oxymoron. To others, it is recognition that technology is able to meet virtually any aspiration that people envision as a way to improve lifestyle. Since the passing of the Clean Air Act of 1976, engineers have developed and commercialized technologies to erase many of the environmental damages associated with the use of fossil fuels. Emissions of the key pollutantssoot, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercuryhave been reduced to de minims levels. Technologies that use fossil fuelscoal, oil, or natural gaslook nothing like those used some 50 years ago.