Comments on: The Desolation of Coal http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/ The Latest on Climate Science, Solutions, and Politics Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:52:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: crf http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16264 crf Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:44:53 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16264 It's difficult for renewable energy sources to compete when non-renewable energy sources are allowed by politicians to do minimal remediation, or pay nothing at all for the harms they cause. It’s difficult for renewable energy sources to compete when non-renewable energy sources are allowed by politicians to do minimal remediation, or pay nothing at all for the harms they cause.

]]> By: David B. Benson http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16269 David B. Benson Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:43:40 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16269 And when King Coal receives actual subsidies paid for by taxpayers. And when King Coal receives actual subsidies paid for by taxpayers.

]]> By: Russ http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16289 Russ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:02:46 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16289 The jobs argument is especially offensive given the fact that MTR's main goal is to liquidate most mining jobs. I think MTR employs something like 1/5 as many workers as conventional mining. This is just another example of how coal is a fundamental evil, how its effects are completely pernicious, and how such an ethos attracts only the wicked to seek their careers in it. The jobs argument is especially offensive given the fact that MTR’s main goal is to liquidate most mining jobs. I think MTR employs something like 1/5 as many workers as conventional mining.
This is just another example of how coal is a fundamental evil, how its effects are completely pernicious, and how such an ethos attracts only the wicked to seek their careers in it.

]]> By: Peter Sinclair http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16306 Peter Sinclair Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:03:43 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16306 Does anyone have any figures on subsidies for coal? Robert Kennedy mentioned a trillion dollars per year on CNN the other night, but I can't find a source for that>. Does anyone have any figures on subsidies for coal?
Robert Kennedy mentioned a trillion dollars per year on CNN the other night, but
I can’t find a source for that>.

]]> By: Mark Shapiro http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16315 Mark Shapiro Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:35:16 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16315 Value of the subsidies for coal probably varies with the estimates of the externalities of mining and burning coal. You can see the damage of mountain top removal easily on Google Earth. Start about 500 miles above WV and KY, then zoom in on any of the little white scars you see in the green of Appalachia. It's daunting. Value of the subsidies for coal probably varies with the estimates of the externalities of mining and burning coal.

You can see the damage of mountain top removal easily on Google Earth. Start about 500 miles above WV and KY, then zoom in on any of the little white scars you see in the green of Appalachia. It’s daunting.

]]> By: Ken Dannager http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16408 Ken Dannager Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:37:23 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16408 Please start a list of people who are actually doing something to stop coal mining in the quickest, surest way possible: by boycotting electical power. Please start a list of people who are actually doing something to stop coal mining in the quickest, surest way possible: by boycotting electical power.

]]> By: Rick http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16416 Rick Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:21:50 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16416 On July 21st, 2008 at 11:37 am Ken Dannager: Please start a list of people who are actually doing something to stop coal mining in the quickest, surest way possible: by boycotting electical power. Ken, Straw man arguments don't work here. Besides you can purchase renewable energy in dergulated markets where the money goes exclusively to renewable energy. While the mix still has coal in it you are voting with your dollars to pay for renewables only. On July 21st, 2008 at 11:37 am Ken Dannager:

Please start a list of people who are actually doing something to stop coal mining in the quickest, surest way possible: by boycotting electical power.

Ken,

Straw man arguments don’t work here. Besides you can purchase renewable energy in dergulated markets where the money goes exclusively to renewable energy. While the mix still has coal in it you are voting with your dollars to pay for renewables only.

]]> By: John Hollenberg http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16417 John Hollenberg Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:35:47 +0000 http://climateprogress.org/2008/07/18/the-desolation-of-coal/#comment-16417 > Please start a list of people who are actually doing something to stop coal mining in the quickest, surest way possible: by boycotting electical power. Actually, decreasing use of electrical power can have a very powerful effect. This can also be done significantly by increasing electrical efficiency rapidly. I just went through my house with a Kill-A-Watt meter and found 40 watts of "phantom load" power (which I disconnected). A bit of extra hassle to plug in the printer or UPS for computer when I really need it, but this change will probably save me about 10% of my power usage. I plan to buy a new refrigerator in the next month or so, which will use 410 KWH per year instead of the estimated 820 KWH from the 12 year old model I currently have. None of these actions will affect my standard of living, but if everyone in the U.S. did this there would be a significant drop in baseload power demand. > Please start a list of people who are actually doing something to stop coal mining in the quickest, surest way possible: by boycotting electical power.

Actually, decreasing use of electrical power can have a very powerful effect. This can also be done significantly by increasing electrical efficiency rapidly. I just went through my house with a Kill-A-Watt meter and found 40 watts of “phantom load” power (which I disconnected). A bit of extra hassle to plug in the printer or UPS for computer when I really need it, but this change will probably save me about 10% of my power usage. I plan to buy a new refrigerator in the next month or so, which will use 410 KWH per year instead of the estimated 820 KWH from the 12 year old model I currently have. None of these actions will affect my standard of living, but if everyone in the U.S. did this there would be a significant drop in baseload power demand.

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