To borrow a catchphrase from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, yes, we most certainly can eliminate coal-fired power plants. Knowing what we know, we know that we should, and sooner rather than later. I’ve decried the many harmful impacts of coal mining and burning to public health, communities and the environment here on numerous occasions. See Health Impacts – Coal and Oil and Coal – Besides Carbon Dioxide, There’s … for instance.
So why is coal still hanging around superheating the climate system? Well, one reason people give here is that you can’t let go of the 50% of American electricity that is powered by coal that easily. Well, it turns out you can. “The shift from coal-fired generation to gas-fired generation sounds like something that would be lengthy and difficult to accomplish. But a new report by PFC Energy, the consultancy, indicates it is anything but.” That’s what this item from the FT said yesterday.
I’ve written about the enormous potential that natural gas has as a transition fuel as we reach for a zero-carbon, technology-based energy economy. Kirsten Korosec over at bnet had an item yesterday as well that focused on Colorado’s push to displace coal with gas. It’s a big hit for the coal industry. They fought this move by Governor Ritter hard – and lost.
As the Sierra Club notes, “It’s time to move America beyond dirty coal.” I’m an old Sierra Club activist on acid rain and urban issues and I can tell you that when the Club gets its teeth into an issue, it doesn’t let go.
One last thought: People used to accuse environmentalists of opposing projects and technologies without having viable alternatives at hand. Well, we had the answers then, for the record, and we sure as shooting have them now. In abundance. The special interests and the naysayers can no longer claim that we “need” coal. (Or nukes or oil.)
