Stoke, Stoke, Stoke that Power Plant
Gristmill commentator Karen Lee Orr critiquing the myths about “clean coal” states:
“There is no clean, safe way to mine coal.
There is no clean, safe way to burn coal.
There is no clean coal.
There is only filthy coal, and filthier coal.”
In a North American Energy Security update, we learn from Treehugger and Philadelphian John Laumer1 that Ontarians are going all the way. Unfortunately, it will be too late by that time. Oh, well.
What am I salaciously grousing about now?
“Quite.”
Well, coal lover, the bad news is that the province of Ontario, Canada’s biggest energy user, plans to close all coal-fired plants.
“All?”
Yep, all. The worse news for all of us is, by the time they become the only jurisdiction in North America to completely phase out coal — the plan is to close its last coal-fired power plant in 2014 — we are well on our way to hell and high water in a coal car, Hansenites.
And, to add radioactive contamination to the planet injury, “the Liberal government, elected in 2003, wants to refurbish existing nuclear plants, which now represent about 37 percent of installed power, and possibly build new ones.”
“Hot Nukes! Now we are talking Energy.”
Quite.
It also plans to push conservation, reinvest in renewable supply sources such as wind power, and boost by 15 percent its reliance on natural gas to supplement what’s lost from coal.”
In results that would be shocking to US citizens, the story also mentioned that “A poll of Ontario voters conducted last month found concerns about pollution and global warming trumped all other issues, including health care.”
It sounded so good to John Laumer, until he read the fine print: “Ontario is unique in Canada in that summer represents peak demand, when it imports electricity from neighboring provinces and U.S. states.”
So, it is another case of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), which is a bit short-sighted, since we only have one planet. Of course, this is a coal burning American calling a Canadian coal black.
“Of course the goal is to eliminate the coal industry, writes David Roberts. “Coal is filthy. It destroys ecosystems to dig it up. It kills the people who work around it. Coal plants throw particulates in the air and causes respiratory ailments. They throw mercury in the water and causes birth defects. They throw CO2 into the atmosphere and causes global warming. The coal industry corrupts the political process. It lies to the public about global warming, and mine safety, and coal reserves, and everything else. It leeches money and opportunity out of the states where it is based.”
So, knowing all of this, this Good American blog is suggesting more coal powered plants, cleaner ones, mind you. My Canadian neighbors just go along with Emperor Fossil and his idea of more coal for the short term. Preferrably, burned in American coal powered plants from which the Canadians can buy electricity with the dollars that we pay them for oil that we burn in our gas guzzling vehicles. Sounds fair, eh?
Continue reading here: The Future of Personal Electric Transportation
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