Comments on: Harry Reid Says No New Coal http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:17:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Obama Steps Up…When Will Clinton? « It’s Getting Hot In Here http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-54550 Obama Steps Up…When Will Clinton? « It’s Getting Hot In Here Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:54:07 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-54550 [...] plan, like investments in “low-emissions coal plants” (remember Harry Reid saying there’s no such thing as clean coal?), his short-term emissions target of 1990 levels by 2020 (ahem, the European Union is aiming for [...] [...] plan, like investments in “low-emissions coal plants” (remember Harry Reid saying there’s no such thing as clean coal?), his short-term emissions target of 1990 levels by 2020 (ahem, the European Union is aiming for [...]

]]> By: Links on Parade: Life before AC, yet another Green Digg launched, Harry Reid says no new coal, and the US Secretary of Transportation says bicycles are not a form of transportation « Blog Archive « Planetsave | Free Email and Green News http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51177 Links on Parade: Life before AC, yet another Green Digg launched, Harry Reid says no new coal, and the US Secretary of Transportation says bicycles are not a form of transportation « Blog Archive « Planetsave | Free Email and Green News Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:05:31 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51177 [...] • Harry Reid Says No New Coal [...] [...] • Harry Reid Says No New Coal [...]

]]> By: Matt Leonard http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51170 Matt Leonard Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:11:10 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51170 While I think Reid IS making some great, strong stands against coal - he does in fact leave the "wiggle room" for "clean coal" and carbon capture. Maybe his position has changed in the past few weeks, but more likely this article just didn't reflect previous statements he's made. Check out the quote below: "Because I believe that developing renewable energy in Nevada is far preferable to coal for the sake of our economy, public health and the environment, I will use every means at my disposal to prevent the construction of new coal-fired power plants in Nevada that do not capture and permanently store greenhouse gas emissions," Reid wrote. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070727/pl_nm/utilities_reid_power_dc That said - I think Reid has made some of the biggest steps by any politician on these issues. He seems to be speaking more urgently about climate concerns, and puts efficiency and renewables at the forefront, and "clean coal" (or the myth of) further back. I think a lot of why politicians are still leaving the "clean coal" rhetoric in their platforms is simply that it's not seen as a reasonable, mainstream position yet. I'd bet money many of them (the Reid's, the Crist's, the Edwards' etc) are just trying to not alienate moderate positions, or step so far ahead of their peers that they have the coal industry attacking them from all sides. That's why it's up to US to make sure that the "Clean Coal" myth is fully understood as the unrealistic, problematic, fabricated idea that it is. Check out these two great recent posts on Grist about the problems of "Clean coal" - from an economic standpoint largely. http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/8/17/152348/339 http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/8/19/155322/893 -Matt While I think Reid IS making some great, strong stands against coal - he does in fact leave the “wiggle room” for “clean coal” and carbon capture. Maybe his position has changed in the past few weeks, but more likely this article just didn’t reflect previous statements he’s made. Check out the quote below:

“Because I believe that developing renewable energy in Nevada is far preferable to coal for the sake of our economy, public health and the environment, I will use every means at my disposal to prevent the construction of new coal-fired power plants in Nevada that do not capture and permanently store greenhouse gas emissions,” Reid wrote.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070727/pl_nm/utilities_reid_power_dc

That said - I think Reid has made some of the biggest steps by any politician on these issues. He seems to be speaking more urgently about climate concerns, and puts efficiency and renewables at the forefront, and “clean coal” (or the myth of) further back.

I think a lot of why politicians are still leaving the “clean coal” rhetoric in their platforms is simply that it’s not seen as a reasonable, mainstream position yet. I’d bet money many of them (the Reid’s, the Crist’s, the Edwards’ etc) are just trying to not alienate moderate positions, or step so far ahead of their peers that they have the coal industry attacking them from all sides. That’s why it’s up to US to make sure that the “Clean Coal” myth is fully understood as the unrealistic, problematic, fabricated idea that it is.

Check out these two great recent posts on Grist about the problems of “Clean coal” - from an economic standpoint largely.

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/8/17/152348/339
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/8/19/155322/893

-Matt

]]> By: I THINK MINING · Reid of Nevada takes on coal-fired power plants: is he a politician or a leader? http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51169 I THINK MINING · Reid of Nevada takes on coal-fired power plants: is he a politician or a leader? Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:46:21 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51169 [...] Reid has stated his opposition to coal-fired power plants. The blogs are awash in pro and con statements. The point that hit me was that as the son of a miner with 16 [...] [...] Reid has stated his opposition to coal-fired power plants. The blogs are awash in pro and con statements. The point that hit me was that as the son of a miner with 16 [...]

]]> By: Daniel Chiotos http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51149 Daniel Chiotos Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:14:03 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51149 This is great! We can't be building new coal plants and we have got to be phasing out the coal plants that already exist through using less energy and building renewables. The state I'm living in, WV, will see more death and destruction if we continue to use and mine coal as we're doing. We've got to stop this and ban strip mining as well so the only coal mined is through (safer) deep mining. I hope that more Democrats get on board, there is a huge political vaccuum that could be a position of power for the party if more powerful Democrats come out against coal and towards social justice. This is great! We can’t be building new coal plants and we have got to be phasing out the coal plants that already exist through using less energy and building renewables. The state I’m living in, WV, will see more death and destruction if we continue to use and mine coal as we’re doing. We’ve got to stop this and ban strip mining as well so the only coal mined is through (safer) deep mining.

I hope that more Democrats get on board, there is a huge political vaccuum that could be a position of power for the party if more powerful Democrats come out against coal and towards social justice.

]]> By: joshlynch http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51138 joshlynch Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:42:48 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/08/19/harry-reid-says-no-new-coal/#comment-51138 This is great news. The best part is that his statements were not qualified with any type of wiggle room for 'clean coal' IGCC power plants with carbon sequestration. Now is the time when we need to be pushing HARD on politicians to enact an unqualified moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. That is the biggest thing we can achieve to stem the climate crisis. This is great news. The best part is that his statements were not qualified with any type of wiggle room for ‘clean coal’ IGCC power plants with carbon sequestration. Now is the time when we need to be pushing HARD on politicians to enact an unqualified moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. That is the biggest thing we can achieve to stem the climate crisis.

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