coal

Broken Promises Follow Tennessee Coal Ash Disaster

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:32:43 -0500

by Sue Sturgis

It was one year ago today that a 60-foot-tall dam broke at holding pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston power plant in Roane County, Tenn., dumping more than a billion gallons of toxic coal ash onto a nearby community and into the Clinch and Emory rivers.

EPA, USDA Push Farmers to Use Coal Waste on Fields

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:27:55 -0500

by Rick Callahan

INDIANAPOLIS - The federal government is encouraging farmers to spread a chalky waste from coal-fired power plants on their fields to loosen and fertilize soil even as it considers regulating coal wastes for the first time.

The material is produced by power plant "scrubbers" that remove acid rain causing sulfur dioxide from plant emissions. A synthetic form of the mineral gypsum, it also contains mercury, arsenic, lead and other heavy metals.

Coal Is Deadly, Not Cheap

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:09:48 -0500

by Stephanie Pistello, Ben Evans, Jeff Biggers and Ben Sollee

As world leaders gather for the Copenhagen Climate Summit, we disagree with Commerce Lexington that energy legislation is "the most immediate threat to Kentucky's business climate."

Nothing could be further from the truth. Dirty energy led to Lexington's embarrassing selection last year as the worst carbon footprint contributor in the nation. Commerce Lexington has taken a giant carbon step backwards.

Copenhagen, USA: Don't Miss Dec 7th Showdown at Climate Change Ground Zero

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:06:31 -0500

by Jeff Biggers

If the Obama administration is unwilling or unable to stop the massive environmental destruction of historic mountain ranges and essential drinking water for a relatively tiny amount of coal, can we honestly believe they will be able to phase out coal emissions at the level necessary to stop climate change? --Dr. James Hansen, June 22, 2009

Welcome to Copenhagen, U.S.A.

Refuse Allegiance to Coal

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:40:38 -0500

by Chris Hedges

There are some 614 coal-fired power plants in the United States, and it is up to us to shut them down. No one in the White House will do it. No one in Congress will do it. And no one at the coming U.N.

The Coal Industry's $47 Million PR Spending Spree

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:32:12 -0500

by Kate Sheppard

The coal industry's major lobby group, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, shelled out a stunning $47 million last year on lobbying, advertising and "grassroots outreach" efforts to fight climate legislation and tout the benefits of "clean coal." Its efforts to actually develop clean coal technology, however, were a lot less impressive.

Report Details 'Coal's Assault on Human Health'

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:54:06 -0500

by Ken Ward Jr.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal pollution is assaulting human health through impacts on workers, residents near mining operations and power plants, and the environment in coalfield communities, according to a new report by a group of physicians.

The report by Physicians for Social Responsibility examined coal's impacts on major organ systems of the human body, from the lungs to the brain.

No Such Thing as Clean Coal

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:12:45 -0400

by Shawn Dell Joyce

We are enduring a $45 million advertising campaign touting "clean coal" as the solution to America's energy crisis. This is an attempt by "Big Coal" lobbyists (the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, in this case) to "greenwash" Americans into believing a lie that coal can be clean. Don't believe the hype!

Cleansing the Air at the Expense of Waterways

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:14:47 -0400

by Charles Duhigg

MASONTOWN, Pa. - For years, residents here complained about the yellow smoke pouring from the tall chimneys of the nearby coal-fired power plant, which left a film on their cars and pebbles of coal waste in their yards.

Activism Works. Kingsnorth Coal Plant Shelved

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:21:48 -0400

by Mark Tran

E.ON, the energy group, tonight effectively threw in the towel on its plans to build a new coal-power station at Kingsnorth, blaming the recession.

In a heavy blow to the government's plans to promote energy from coal, E.ON said lower demands for electricity due to the recession had pushed the need for the new plant in the UK to around 2016.