Coal- Do we still need it?
Denny at The Back Woods Drifter is blogging about the fight to end mountaintop removal and the long term effects it causes. He just started up Stop Mountaintop Removal, to focus on that fight.
It seems the negative effects of our dependence on coal to supply the growing demand for electricity are getting worse. From the damage being caused to Mom Nature, to the increase of health problems being seen in the eastern part of the country, it is safe to say that we are not using this vital resource wisely.
While I’m not in an area that mountaintop removal affects me, I do see the damaging effects of strip mining daily, so I know why there is such a campaign to stop it. Mountaintop removal was first used as a way to mine coal in the 1970’s when “Big Coal” was searching for a way to make the cost of mining cheaper. Fewer workers equal less cost per ton of coal mined and a higher profit for the guys who probably have never gotten dirty a day in their entire lives. Mountaintop removal completely changes the landscape. Say goodbye to all the trees and vegetation, that’s just for starters. Have a favorite stream that you used to camp or hike near, that will also be gone after the overburden is pushed into the valley that the stream used to wander through. And after this, try getting anything to grow there again, it can of course, but are the companies willing to pay the cost of reclamation?
I am however, in an area that puts out quite a bit of pollution from the burning of coal to make much needed electricity. In fact, 1 power plant near me puts out the 2nd highest levels of sulfur dioxide in the country and the 5th highest levels of mercury. This area has some of the worst pollution levels in the country which in turn, cause the acid rain that falls. We are a major producer of carbons which helps to fuel the global warming debate, as in 3rd highest output in the nation.
Water pollution is also an issue in my area, not only from the acid rain that falls, but also from CCW (coal combustion waste) – what is left after the coal is burnt. Adding to the CCW problem is the fact that more “boney” , or less pure coal, is being mined and burned for power. This is less efficient than regular bituminous coal and only creates more waste per megawatt of power produced. This waste is being disposed of in old mines as a fill. Not only is this very ugly, but it is also affecting our drinking water supply. Data reports that the levels of lead and cadmium are 30-40 times the federal drinking water standards. These sites can also contain high levels of chromium, mercury, arsenic and other possible pollutants. The EPA released a report that states the cancer risks around these areas are 900 times federal safety standards.
If you would like to learn more, stop over at Stop Mountaintop Removal and you will find plenty of links to keep you reading for a while.
