Comment on "clean coal."

Carter swicthed all new power plants to coal. But put solar cells on the White House. Google tells me about 60% of our electricty comes from coal, 20% from nuclear, 15% hydrorlectric, and 5% wind and solar. I suggest building nuclear power plants, and converting our coal into diesel fuel instead at Fischer-Tropsch plants, which is competive with oil at $40 a bbl and higher. The coal would pollute no more than it does now, and we eliminate the need to import and refine all the oil we do now, with all the GHG and other pollutants that produces. A net winner economicly and environmentaly.

Blueskies @ 2:26 PM PDT, Oct 8, 2008

Coal Kills. From cradle to grave coal is filthy. Coal will soon run out. We need to hasten the transition now! Carbon capture is a myth. It is too expensive and requires more space that we have on this planet. The extraction of coal destroys mountains, poisons streams and cultures. The burning of coal is poisoning our children and causing the worst disaster ever in our modern history, Global Warming. You can't wave a magic wand and make coal 's filth and dirt go away. Green jobs now is the only thing that will save our earth and our economy. There are no jobs on a dead planet.

hollergirl @ 8:05 AM PDT, Oct 8, 2008

Why such nasty little comments? "Clean Coal" is an oxymoron (not an actual moron like those we send to Washington). However if we keep sending trillions abroad to petroleum rich countries, we weaken our currecy and empower hateful regimes that wish us grater harm then a moderately expanded use of a dirty fuel as coal might do.

Bruce @ 4:37 PM PDT, Oct 7, 2008

To ridicule coal in this manner is foolish. "Clean coal" rcognizes this is a critical fuel AT THIS POINT IN TIME, and finding ways to pollute LESS is a good thing. You cannot, in your wildest dreams, wave some magic wand of government and make coal go away any time soon, so why not try to pollute less in the interim? As far as blowing up mountains, and polluting streams, while you dramatize the point (checked mining regulations and oversight lately?), this is the unfortunate consequence of having about 150 million Americans use electricity every day. Rhetoric is not the answer, for either party.

JS @ 11:32 AM PDT, Oct 7, 2008

RE: your note on fuel cells. There are ~6 different technologies all very different from each other. each suited to its own application. Saying “hydrogen fuel cell is a speculative technology that may never arrive,” demonstrates a limited understanding based on media hype. The hydrogen fuelled PEM, AFC, PAFC and SOFC technologies are all in differing states of commercialisation. Some are ready now. Automotive technology tends to be based on PEM technology proven in material handling & utility vehicles applications. The site fuelcellmarkets (dot) com is informative on fuel cells

Duncan @ 9:42 AM PDT, Oct 7, 2008

I must agree that "clean coal" is an oxymoron, spawned by those with large coal deposits. Unfortunately due to coal creating allot of wealth, those with coal deposits similarly to the Nuclear industry can invest in lobbying and incentivising politicians.

Duncan @ 9:39 AM PDT, Oct 7, 2008

Oh grow up! Coal right now, today produces 50% of the nation's electricity. No coal plants and the lights go out and the air conditioning goes off. Do you think the “people” are going to think that’s just fine? What are you going to replace coal with, wind turbines? What a joke. This was a very stupid little rant; child like in fact.

Erick @ 9:18 AM PDT, Oct 7, 2008