Comments on: On the Importance of Stopping Coal… http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:09:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: jessejenkins http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/#comment-52639 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:32:13 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/#comment-52639 I think this ad makes a great point: that our forward progress can be eroded if we allow backsliding at the same time by constructing more coal plants. We need to both hold the line against new coal while also advancing other efforts.

Like Richard, I also tried to get methodologies for how they calculated these numbers, and I couldn’t get a response. Richard has a strong argument that at least one effort is minimized. But still, even if you assume their figures are right, I think the angle of this ad can be a bit depressing. Let’s look at it at another angle too: if and when we do stop the construction of all these new coal plants, the positive victories they describe in this add will also offset the emissions of at least 20 conventional coal-fired power plants. That’s a measurable step forward, and if, as Richard and I suspect, the benefits of some of these efforts are underestimated, we’re making even more progress.

Don’t let this ad depress you: let it steel your resolve to continue to fight for an effective moratorium on new coal plants while we continue progress on the leading edge! We’re moving forward and we’ve got to keep up those efforts while protecting the gains we’ve made!

]]> By: R Margolis http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/#comment-52586 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:59:51 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/#comment-52586 Four plants (~2000 MW) can supply about 2000 large buildings with power (about the size of the UCSB Engineering II building). Richard has me curious how much power all the universities consume. I certainly agree that the numbers have to work if there is to be progress.

…and I am still amazed at the opposition to coal that has materialized. When I was in school (~20 years ago), the attitude was “Coal is supposed to be bad, it’s tradition.” Must sound strange to young folks today.

]]> By: Richard Graves http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/#comment-52584 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:08:43 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/09/06/on-the-importance-of-stopping-coal/#comment-52584 One note of caution: The figures on this ad, in at least one instance, are wrong. The efforts of the Campus Climate Challenge are the equivalent of 40 coal plants, not 4. An order of magnitude difference. I tried to get methodology or figures from Architecture 2030 and they did not get back to me.

I am all for opposing new coal plants, but let us not minimize our efforts or their impact. Also, we have to be more accurate than our opposition, as they have the money and we have the truth.

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