- Kevin

Union County approves zoning ordinance for Hyperion -
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/ articles/ 2008/ 06/ 04/ news/ top/ 4e608d46402d5adb8625745e00110beb.txt

Hyperion touted the so-called “green” technology in its proposed energy center, which it claims would be the world’s cleanest. The refinery would process 400,000 barrels of tar sands crude a day from Alberta into low-sulfur gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Wow! Their technology cleans those filthy tar sands and creates clean, low-sulfur fuel.
And almost every midwest refinery is seeking expansion to refine it.

Here is a picture from Alberta after some of ‘the greening’ is underway.

Just imagine what a mess that place was before Chevron cleaned it up!

http://nixonisinhell.files.wordpress.com/ 2007/ 11/ pulling-oil-from-the-tar-sands.jpg

Coal’s not dirty. Old power plants are dirty regardless of the fuel source. New coal plants replacing old coal plants would be a huge step forward, although it might not be the step to perfection that you desire. Replacing our old coal plants with new coal plants could reduce coal emissions by up to 50% — that’s the largest single improvement that is being discussed today. Here’s the other good news – the electric utilities are willing to foot the bill – no government subsidies required.

If we’re going to solve all of our energy problems, we have to start with truthful dialog. A fake website called “coal is clean” only insults – it doesn’t educate.

I’m in favor of taking the steps necessary to solve our problems and I’m willing to accept new technology involving coal as easily as I will accept wind and solar. I think the latter two create a different form of pollution, but I believe it can be managed.

“Replacing our old coal plants with new coal plants…” I’d take that in a heartbeat, but usually company ‘A’ doesn’t close because company ‘B’ builds a cleaner plant.

There was a provision for doing just that without building a new facility. It was called New Source Review and actually was on the verge of significant public health and environmental benefits (if you’re a coal exec, read ‘temporary smaller profit margin’) during the Clinton years but got, um… stalled after the 2000 Presidential election.

Anyway, I’ve spent many hours as a citizen activist speaking with elected officials on energy/environmental issues. At best, energy lobbyists give their company’s side of the story. At worst, it can take years to educate reps and senators past the misleading spins and distortions the energy lobby peddles.

At least with the coal is clean site, you get the joke pretty quick.