A program directed toward characterizing the combustion of low rank coal (LRC) fuels in a pressurized environment representative of a gas turbine combustor is being conducted by United Technologies Research Center (UTRC). The range of variation of important parameters over which efficient combustion and acceptable combustor effluent are obtained will be defined in tests using four LRC fuels. Two of the fuels will be dry, micronized coal, and two will be slurried forms of LRC. For each form, one fuel will use minimally processed coal while the other will use coal beneficiated by the hot water drying process. The former material will contain notably higher ash and moisture contents, and as a consequence, offer a reduced heating value. Combustor tests are being performed using the UTRC staged combustor. This burner has successfully demonstrated the ability to achieve high combustion efficiency for a wide range of alternative fuels including low and medium heating value coal-derived gaseous fuel, coal-derived distillate fuel, viscous shale-derived residual fuel, and bituminous CWM fuel. In addition, proper application of the staged combustor concept has resulted in combustor exhaust NO/sub x/ concentrations less than 50 ppM (15 pct 0/sub 2/) despite fuel bound nitrogen levels over 1.0(wt) pct. 3 figs.