Coal
Jan 3rd, 2007
12/10/2006
Nevada's Coal Ambitions
An article in today's paper talked about our coal imports last year. It seems we weren't able to get enough to our power plants last annum and had to go out of country for some of our fuel.
Of course, this is not an indictment of our coal reserves (we have lots 'they' say...) but is an indication of our continual and continuing increase in the amount of energy we use.
Where is conservation?
It seems we cannot build rail systems fast enough to keep up with our new power plants.
And every new coal plant spews more and more CO2 and toxins out into our atmosphere. And we will have to build more rail systems just to keep up with this new demand for more coal.
Isn't it odd that with Nevada's new anti-smoking law, no one seems to get their panties in a bunch over the increased greenhouse gasses which seem to have a growth-life of their own. We won't tolerate the stench of tobacco, but willingly will build out of sight, out of mind filthy planet-busting fossil power plants, so we can have our lights on all night -- even when there is no-one there to see them.
Another fine NIMBY that we tolerate, or in this case it seems we prefer and embrace.
It is said that it takes 20 pounds of coal burned to give us an hour of watching TV. And most of us know that coal plants are around 70% inefficient. That is, it takes 100 lbs. of coal to give us 30 lbs. worth of power at our electrical boxes. The other 70 lbs. is lost as heat.
In a sane world, a sane society would be using that waste heat. Heat to warm houses and businesses, heat for industrial purposes.
But here in this land of plenty, we don't want the inconvenience of having to look at messy dirty coal smoke. We instead build them in the boonies to we don't have to see them. So that we can pretend they're not there at all.
What a world. What a world.
Oh my beautiful wickedness.
This corporate-corrupted world is not healthy for humans and other living creatures. It is the playground of the power seekers, the football field of financiers and other subhumans who care not for a clean and sustainable future, but only how fully they can fill their pockets.
We are indeed killing our planet, and our childrens' world.
And there is no letup in sight.
And they will keep filling their pockets, even as the air becomes too poisonous to breathe, the water too filthy to drink, and the land too barren to grow food.
This is what we have allowed to happen to our wonderful world, and there seems to be little brightness to hope for.
The early-toppers claim Peak oil has already topped. The late-toppers say that between now and 2010 will be our reckoning. And others think we may have another 15-20 years to prepare for the end of cheap oil.
Notice the words here, the end of cheap oil. Not the end of oil, that will probably never happen, but the end of cheap oil is essentially the end of our culture.
We must start now to change this craziness.
Every little thing we can do will help, but oddly, even if we do all we can it will not be enough. Or so say those in the know. Those who have written the books that we all should read.
Will we start in time?