Opinion
Sanity, reality about nation’s use of coal must prevail
We’ve all heard the extremes in the debate over climate change.
On one side are those who believe human activity — including the burning of coal and other fossil fuels — is a major contributor to warming temperatures and that the Earth is in great peril.
On the other side are those who question if there is warming taking place at all. Even if there is, they contend, humans are not the reason, and they can do little about it.
We hope that the debate in coming months and years will be marked by sanity and reality — not extreme positions either way.
When effective, reliable, cost-efficient renewable energy is fully developed, it will lead to riches and power beyond the imagination. Until then, coal and other fossil fuels are not going away and must be used in the wisest manner possible.
Coal is clearly under attack from many quarters.
At this month’s Governor’s Energy Summit at Stonewall Resort, regulatory and legislative challenges were characterized by Chris Hamilton of the West Virginia Coal Association as “perhaps more serious, more threatening than they’ve ever been.”
At the top of the list is regulation of carbon dioxide, a byproduct of coal combustion. The Environmental Protection Agency, in fact, has declared that carbon dioxide is a dangerous pollutant, which means the EPA could regulate it without the approval of Congress.
“No one who works in the coal industry should have any illusions about this. The impact of EPA regulations will mean a relatively swift and painful reduction in coal production and coal jobs. That is the last thing anyone related in our industry should want,” said Cecil Roberts, international president of United Mine Workers of America.
Then there is federal “cap and trade” legislation that narrowly passed the House last summer. West Virginia Congress members Alan B. Mollohan, Shelley Moore Capito and Nick Rahall voted against the legislation.
Action is pending in the Senate, and West Virginia Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller have expressed their concerns.
In the midst of the attacks on coal, West Virginia is making a move to become one of the nation’s leaders in clean-coal technology.
The latest example is an announcement of $344 million in federal stimulus funding to American Electric Power (AEP) to continue its clean-coal project at Mountaineer Power Plant in Mason County.
Earlier this year, AEP demonstrated that carbon capturing and sequestering (CCS) is possible with a demonstration at the Mountaineer plant in New Haven. Now, AEP will be one of three companies in the country charged with expanding that technology and developing a working model for the rest of the nation and world.
West Virginia, given the choice to complain or lead, is choosing to show that coal can be used responsibly as a key component of the nation’s energy mix for decades to come.
Gov. Joe Manchin believes that within 30 to 50 years, there will be another energy resource in America as cost-effective, useful and abundant as coal is today. But until that happens, he said, the nation’s leaders should be finding ways to promote and perfect clean-coal technology instead of trying to eliminate the industry.
“There are greenhouse gases and global warming. I’m not going to argue that. I will accept that as being accurate,” he said. “But we should put money necessary, as a nation, into research to find the technology to burn coal cleaner and retrofit existing coal plants and industries that use it.”
That’s the sane and realistic approach for a nation that depends on coal for more than 50 percent of its energy needs and has an enormous supply of the natural resource.
There is simply no replacement on the horizon.
National policy that wouldn’t take advantage of developing environmentally friendly ways of mining and using coal is simply doomed for failure.
- Opinion
-
-
Labor: Our stabilizing and strengthening force for good
The most grandiose idea birthed in the mind of a brilliant professional will forever remain dormant and useless until it reaches the productive hands of labor.
The American labor force has distinguished itself from generation to generation for its ability to produce, with accuracy and dependability, any task it was given. -
‘The Cure’ for economy remains elusive
When you’ve got a nasty cold, it seems like everyone has The Cure and you’ve just got to try it.
A hot toddy.
Chicken soup and cough syrup.
Orange juice and plenty of rest.
And maybe you’ve tried them a time or two. And, in some cases, The Cure eases the symptoms, but it never makes the cold go away. -
Supercomputer ‘beacon’ builds credibility of I-79 High Tech Corridor
We don’t just consider the announcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s latest project as one more piece of the I-79 Technology Park puzzle.
When the West Virginia High Tech Consortium announced this week that NOAA would be building a supercomputer in Fairmont at the high-tech park, a lot of words came to mind, but one in particular.
Beacon. -
Love of helping students propels FSHS principal to state recognition
Chad Norman, principal of Fairmont Senior High School, believes that one of the most important aspects of being in his position is loving the students under his guidance.
He says “you have to love to work with kids. And I do love working with them, spending time with them, helping to mold and shape them.” -
New nuisance ordinance will give residents peace and quiet
We’ve all been there.
The neighbors are playing their music at a high volume. So high, in fact, that you can hear the lyrics as plainly as if the music were playing in your own home. It’s getting late, and you’ve got a long day ahead. The police are called, but they can do nothing because of ineffective laws that prohibit citations from being issued. -
Ethics law’s ‘revolving door’ should be reviewed
West Virginia’s governmental ethics law — like its counterpart in nearly every state — bans the “revolving door” custom through which state officials deal with private firms, then resign to take lucrative jobs with the same firms, or quit to become lobbyists pressuring their former colleagues. Somehow, this practice seems too cozy to be desirable.
-
It’s time ‘brick wall’ Greater Marion PSD customers have hit finally is taken down
It’s a situation no one should have to deal with for a day.
Let alone a decade.
Carolina, Idamay and Kellytown residents are still waiting for groundbreaking on a project to grant them relief from numerous sewage system issues that have been plaguing the small communities for years. -
‘Ground Zero Mosque’ sparks big debate
It is perhaps the biggest debate to hit the nation involving the Islamic faith since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when radical extremists were responsible for the deaths of thousands in New York City, Southwestern Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
-
Let your voice be heard at polls during primary for Senate seat
What are you doing on Saturday?
It’s the last weekend in August. Next weekend is set aside for Labor Day. That’s the last weekend of the summer. But what are you doing this weekend?
Maybe going swimming? Perhaps going shopping? Or maybe going out of town this weekend and staying home for the Mountaineer football game next weekend? You could have a picnic planned. -
Head injuries must never be taken lightly at any level
It’s time for the lights to go on Friday night in stadiums across the state.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Labor: Our stabilizing and strengthening force for good
