Written by OSU student Kaitlyn Maywhoor:
Yesterday morning, the Ohio Student Environmental Coalition held a protest outside of the American Municipal Power headquarters in Columbus.
The plan was to wash AMP’s windows to help them “See the Light” while holding murals depicting Ohio’s future with AMP’s proposed coal-fired power plant versus Ohio’s future with renewable energy. However, when the group arrived there were two police cars and a paddy wagon parked outside the headquarters.
After talking with the police officers, OSEC Steering Committee co-chairs Kristen Arnold (Freshman, OSU) and Leah Winnike (Sophomore, University of Dayton) were allowed a meeting with AMP spokespeople Jolene Thompson and Kent Carson.
During the meeting, Kristen and Leah explained why OSEC is against the new coal-fired power plant planned for Meigs County, and the need for renewable and sustainable sources of energy. They also delivered a letter declaring the beginning of a campaign called “Operation: Bad Deal,” where student groups across Ohio will do everything they can to help AMP find a better way than the dirty coal plant. OSEC feels the positive impacts of AMP’s current renewables would be far outweighed by the new plant, although Thompson claimed that coal is itself a clean and renewable energy.
Outside, the rest of the group held up the murals and banners and chanted to keep spirits up. After the meeting, the students continued chanting as they marched away, knowing this was merely the first action in a series.
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“Thompson claimed that coal is itself a clean and renewable energy.”
WTF mate?!!!
According to dictionary.com:
Clean – “free from pollution; unadulterated; pure” or alternatively “morally pure; innocent; upright; honorable” or even “having no direct associations, business interests, etc., that could prejudice one’s official acts or decisions”
Renewable – “that is inexhaustible or replaceable by new growth” (Sorry, but coal takes billions of years to make…)
Sorry, but coal doesn´t match any of those definitions.
The poor woman appears to have been brainwashed by her job. Or perhaps, do you think she has personal morals but just puts up a moral screen when she goes to work?
My guess is that the spokesperson is not technically inclined and the terms are perceived as buzzwords. The lack of technical literacy is a persistent issue in the energy debates.
It would seem these students need to get out of the class room and do a little experiencing of there own without mom and dads financial backing. They would find there is much more to life than following their blind college teaching fellows inexperience. It always amazes me that someone who has felt no more pain than to pass a college exam can have such earth changing ideas and accually believe they are correct. Go without food, or without a paycheck, or without someone to back you, and see where that leaves you mentally!
Is there such thing as clean coal? Ive been hearing a lot about that, but when I think of coal i think of black putrid smoke, chocking the air. So how would you get clean coal? Or is it just a sham?
you have to be kidding me.
Insane, there cant be a such thing as clean coal.