- James Hansen, NASA’s top climatologist on Monday at the national press club. “This is a hard proposition that no politician is willing to stand up and say it’s necessary.”
In case you haven’t noticed, the last couple of weeks have been a snowball of big blows for the coal industry:
- TXU is bought out by a group of investors, who agree to kill plans for 8 of 11 new coal-fired power plants in Texas.
- James Hansen, travels to Washington to call for a moratorium on building any new, conventional coal-fired plants.
- Texas Lawmaker, “Doc” Anderson (R-Waco) introduces legislation calling for a 180 moratorium on permitting for new coal-fired power plants.
- Edison Electric Institute, the utility industry’s trade association, agrees to drop its longtime opposition to the federal regulation of carbon emissions, if certain conditions are met.
- A New York Times article referencing a forthcoming MIT study raises tough questions about so-called clean coal technology.
- A United Nations panel of 18 scientists who spent two years studying global warming also concluded that no more conventional coal plants should be built.
- Duke Energy is forced by state regulators to pare back its plans to build 1600 new megawatts of coal-fired capacity near Charlotte, N.C., and to invest in energy conservation instead.
Carpe diem, folks. It’s time to find those politicians who are willing to call for a national ban on new coal-fired power plants and tell them to “Step It Up“!
That’s an excellent roundup of the developments of the last week – I didn’t realize so many things happened in such a short space of time! As you doubtless know as a California resident, a few months back our state passed SB 1468, which prohibits utilities from entering into long-term contracts for power produced by dirty coal-burning plants.
Before we celebrate about the TXU deal:
As I understand it, the TXU deal has not closed yet, and the three plants that would be built, 2 at Oak Grove and one at Sandow, would be the dirtiest of those original 11 proposed plants. I also understand that there are a number of loopholes in the deal that could allow plants at some of the other sites to be built as well.
I also think it shows a lack of accountability to the communities facing these projects that large environmental groups, NRDC and Environmental Defense, made this deal without the involvement of local community groups. Environmental Defense dropped a lawsuit against the Sandow plant as part of the deal, leaving local groups to clean up the mess. How grassroots is that? It is clear that large environmental groups have more of an interest in getting victories, publicity and funding more than they have an interest in taking direction from the REAL grassroots. They are working too closely with industry for my taste, TXU has established a Sustainable Energy Advisory Board as part of this deal, on which Environmental Defense regional director Jim Marston will serve. Can we really do this? How effective is our movement if large enviro groups take all the power, claiming to be the grassroots and go on to greenwash coal plants?
P.S. No New Coal Plants!
I agree with you that we must inact laws to stop Coal Fired Plants.
I worked in a Coal Fired Plant several years ago and I can understand the waste.
I have invented a motor that can turn a turbine and create electricity with Gravity power.
I have built a prototype and need to do some research and development.
When I complete my prototype how will I market it and who can I show it to?
I am sure that most of you have seen or heard of Gravity motors or Gravity power and have been disconnected after looking at some of the project that you may see on the web.
They don’t work very well but my motor will work with some more parts and work.
Got any good ideas?
Larry Melton