Thousands of coal industry muckety mucks are in Charlotte this week attending the Coal-Gen industry conference. In addition to worrying about cap and trade legislation in Washington, the group is trying to figure out how to continue offering cheap electricity while reducing carbon emissions and turning a profit.
But before we all start crying about the cost of clean energy, let’s not forget the cost of dirty energy: Our health, clean air, our mountains, the lives of miners, our rivers, streams and lakes … in other words, life itself.
I don’t know about you, but I’d gladly pay a little extra to the power company each month — and even chip in more to help the poor cover their energy bills, to avoid all of these coal power side effects.
Its 108 million tons a year of carbon emissions rank Duke third-highest among U.S. utilities. The company’s contributions to global warming, use of coal mined by blasting Appalachian mountaintops and construction of a new coal-fired boiler at its Cliffside plant prompted hundreds of protesters to march on Duke’s headquarters in genteel Charlotte in April.But Duke is also building a new-generation coal plant, in Edwardsport, Ind., that might be able to capture and store up to half its carbon emissions. Success for plants like Edwardsport, experts say, is key to securing the coal industry’s future.
Duke executive Jim Turner, president of its regulated business segment, assured his audience that the company won’t turn away from coal, in which it has invested $5 billion for non-carbon pollution controls.
“But there is a balance here,” he said, “because the cleaner we try to get, the more it costs.”
The costs of installing carbon-capturing technology could equal the amount U.S. utilities have spent for controlling all air pollutants combined, said Ron Barnes of Charlotte-headquartered Shaw Power Group, which designs and builds power plants.
The advanced design at Edwardsport will cost $2.3 billion for 630 megawatts, compared to the $1.8 billion (not including financing costs) for 825 megawatts at Cliffside.
While we’re busy sweating corporate profits, the Germans are making clean energy work:
This article appears in Aug 18-25, 2009.
The truly sad part about this is that Big Oil will remain in firm control,thanks to the EPA-OBD II Vehicle Emissions Inspection Law, which mandates that all Gasoline powered vehicles, from 1996 to the present,must operate at 14.7 parts of Air to 1 part of Fuel.It is entirely possible to safely convert Gasoline into a clear, dry Vapor that is 100 parts of Air to 1 part of Fuel.Even the largest SUV could easily get 50+MPG,& emit a fraction of the Emissions of a 14.7/1 Fuel System, with more Power, and longer Engine Life.For even more insight, do a search on Tom Ogle, then go to http://energy21.freeservers.com/bookrep.html and check out the last part of it.But, all OBD II Vehicles have Oxygen[O2]Sensors that detect the level of polluting Exhaust Emissions.When a Vehicle is connected to an OBD II Emissions Analyzer for Inspection, whatever those O2 Sensors read is detected.Too much Pollution,& it will fail,as well it should.But, with vaporized 100/1 Fuel, O2 Sensors will detect nothing, and an O2 Sensor Failure Code will be generated.Thus, it is entirely possible to fail an Emissions Inspection for not emitting enough Pollution!This insane Law, that only benefits Big Oil, was passed during the Clinton Administration, with Al Gore’s enthusiastic support! Go figure! And Obama can’t change it either, as long as Big Oil is in firm control!And not one Politician or Environmentalist will question the ongoing suppression of Vapor Fuel Technology ! I have asked many, and have yet to get a Reply.Maybe you can try ?
It is a bit of juggling game in the coal industry and coal prices from underground mines to ensure enough electricity and steel capacity worldwide while making sure the impact on the environment and people is minimal. http://www.coalportal.com