So Much for "Clean Coal"
By: Lowell
Published On: 3/10/2008 8:01:52 AM
In the context of the proposed Wise County coal-fired power plant, I've heard politicians -- including, unfortunately, Gov. Kaine -- talk about how coal is going to be a part of Virginia's energy mix for years to come. Well, if you listen to the science, it had better not be:
The task of cutting greenhouse gas emissions enough to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures may be far more difficult than previous research suggested, say scientists who have just published studies indicating that it would require the world to cease carbon emissions altogether within a matter of decades.
Their findings, published in separate journals over the past few weeks, suggest that both industrialized and developing nations must wean themselves off fossil fuels by as early as mid-century in order to prevent warming that could change precipitation patterns and dry up sources of water worldwide.
To repeat and emphasize what the scientists are saying we must do: "cease carbon emissions altogether" and "wean [our]selves off fossil fuels by as early as mid-century." Now, can someone please explain to me how continued coal (or oil, or any other fossil fuel?) use meshes with the science? [Cue Jeopardy music..."What is, 'it doesn't?'"]
P.S. For those who like to claim that "carbon capture and sequestration" is a viable option, that's simply not true. At best, this technology is a decade or two away; in the meantime, coal-fired power plants will continue to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the exact opposite of what scientists say we need to do, which is slash our carbon emissions to ZERO by mid-century.
Comments
AEP contacted me last week about the Coal-Fired Plant in SWVA (chspkheel - 3/10/2008 10:02:24 AM)
I was rather shocked (but not surprised) that AEP was paying a telemarketing firm to contact their customers about the new Coal-Fired Plant in far Southwest Virginia. They wanted my permission to add my name to a fax they were sending to Governor Kaine in support of building the "clean coal" power plant. My response, "There is nothing clean about "Clean Coal" and..." They promptly hung up. I guess they got the message.
The information that I have read and listened to about this whole process of building the new plant, is just another example of big business corporate welfar and the uber-wealthy leveraging their power to cram this so-called "Clean Coal" power plant down the throats of every power customer in Virginia and also the good, hardworking folks of Southwest Virginia. At a meeting in the town of Wise several months back, after the Dominion Power representative finished his presentation about the proposed plant and how many new jobs it would bring to the region, he was asked a question that if he lived here, would he want this in his backyard? He very clearly said that he would be fighting this too if he were in their shoes.
This issue cuts to the core what has been happening in far SWVA for years, if not generations. Put heavy, dirty, environmentally damaging industry in the most economically depressed and struggling areas of the state, out of sight of the major population centers, and base your strategy of getting approval for expansions or new construction of more of the same types of industries by being able to financially influence public officials, mislead the public, flat out lie, and even intimidate people into getting what they want. This speaks directly to right vs. wrong, treating people fairly, with dignity and respect, and the need to fight for environmental justice, economic justice, and social justice.
This issue doesn't just affect far Southwest Virginia or even Southside Virginia (Uranimum Mining), but the whole state. Dominion Power, in anticipation of getting the approvals to begin construction on the new "Clean Coal" Fired Plant in Wise County, has already gotten the approval from the State Corporation Commission to raise its rates to help pay for the constructions. With that ruling in favor of raising rates, the rest of the power companies are going to follow suite. WE ARE ALL GOING TO PAY FOR FINANCING ENVIRONMENTAL-ECONOMIC-SOCIAL INJUSTICE. A loud and clear message must be sent to the Governor and the Power/Energy Industry to switch to clean energy alternatives and stop trying to cram the same old, outdated dirty-environmentally damaging technologies down the throats of their customers. Just because you shove the carbon emissions down a hole doesn't mean the problem is solved.
I was thinking that (Eric - 3/10/2008 10:10:40 AM)
Dominion should be allowed to build their coal plant on the condition that the top 50 executives/staff all purchase primary residences within 5 miles of the plant (downwind, of course), that they must live there at least three-quarters of the year, and that their children attend the school closest to the plant.
I'd bet all the coal plant plans would disappear real quick.
The absentee slum-lord angel, that's a great idea... (chspkheel - 3/10/2008 10:20:23 AM)
They have done this in rent-controled areas and places where the landlord has not met their obligations/responsibilities to keep up their properties. I am full-throatedly in favor of applying this to Power Company Executives. Let's see how quick they change their plans. Good idea!
Someone should tell Gov. Kaine (TheGreenMiles - 3/10/2008 10:04:49 AM)
Why is he still hyping clean coal, as he did on the radio
last week?
No idea. (Lowell - 3/10/2008 10:16:03 AM)
But he's really, really wrong on this one. If he allows the Wise County plant to move forward, it will be the biggest mistake of his governorship, even counting the repeal of the estate tax (because carbon emissions will have long-term and dire consequences for the environment that might not be reversible).
The Plant will move forward (Alter of Freedom - 3/10/2008 1:34:52 PM)
Lowell I am afraid the question still is coming under an economics mentality and not a scientific one as of yet. Why. I liken it to the mental helth agenda that has move forward this last year as a major "need" for the State. How? It took the catalyst of VA Tech to trigger the movement of the agenda forward. What will trigger this movement towards not clean coal but no coal if not the science? It may require a shift in the economics which unfortunately I do not see happening for some time.
To be sure Virginia could be a first mover and get a grip on this and begin to shift away its required need for coal or at least its determination to continue to supply the coal, but should that happen and there becomes the politcial will to do until the tech catches up that could eliminate the required coal or we get smart and expand our nuke power like France has done and now Canada seems to be having the debate over Kaine knows that the utilities for example will have to purchase coal from elsewhere outside Virginia. This would surely increase its costs and no doubt the pressure has been placed by them and the rail industry not to let that happen. In order for there to be significant pressure from the green side of the equation one must look to all and not just the utilities and examine just how they are participants as well in the big picture. Do not the companies that mine, transport, and then burn all bear some of the reponsibility to the impacts on our environment.
I realize from a political point Kaine is in a hard place given the pressure placed upon the office by those with something to protect with the status quo and it could be that they have his ear and many more politicans than we would like to admit and are sp[eaking louder while those supporting going green have yet to be effectively mobilized. Still looking for answers.
This makes no sense (Lowell - 3/10/2008 1:36:15 PM)
from an economics point of view either. When Congress passes "cap and trade" in a year or two, the plant will be totally uneconomical. Coal-fired power is a really dumb investment, as many other utilities around the country are concluding.
cap and trade may certainly depend on this and the next House election cycle (Alter of Freedom - 3/10/2008 3:05:56 PM)
Question I submitted: (TheGreenMiles - 3/10/2008 12:18:32 PM)
Last week Dominion Virginia Power finally admitted that its proposed coal-fired power plant in Wise County will not be compatible with carbon capture and storage in the foreseeable future. Can a coal plant that emits over 5 million tons of carbon dioxide a year still be compatible with your plans to cut Virginia's greenhouse gas emissions?
Paul got on (faithfull - 3/10/2008 12:50:56 PM)
and was EXCELLENT. GO team.
The worst part of this (Eric - 3/10/2008 1:05:15 PM)
is that we're struggling to pass legislation and plans that aim for the lofty goal of decreasing the projected rate of increase of emissions.
Is there any chance that we'll take real action before we're totally screwed?
Not if we have "leaders" who won't (Lowell - 3/10/2008 1:08:43 PM)
bite the bullet and stop talking about how coal has a long and glorious future ahead of it. If so, then the planet's in huge trouble.
Just stating the obvious here but.. (Terry85 - 3/11/2008 12:45:59 AM)
those clean coal commercials are hilarious! My friends and I were cracking up at them while watching the election results come in on CNN last Tuesday.