Seeking votes in coal-rich Kentucky, Barack Obama is broadcasting a television ad declaring that coal is a big part of America’s energy future.
He’s almost certainly right. But it’s funny how he and most other politicians, particularly the Democrats, would never say the same about oil or nuclear power. Burning coal produces almost as much carbon dioxide as burning oil and gasoline, and infinitely more CO2 than nuclear power. Mining coal kills more Americans every year than does drilling for oil or running nuclear plants. Coal’s pollution -- the smoke and the invisible CO2 -- is probably the most difficult to clean up. And coal still can’t replace gasoline for cars.
Why coal gets a pass
