In response to
"Smog rule reversal was right" (Thursday):
Letter writer Russ Larrivee needs to know that there is no such thing as "clean coal," nor are we close to any technology that would allow for said clean coal.
Has he ever worked in a coal-burning power plant or coal mine? I have 20 years' experience working inside of a coal-fired power plant. Whether it is the fly ash coating everything or the unexpected inhaling of sulphur dioxide, it is far from clean.
All coal-fired plants emit thousands of tons of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas), sulphur dioxide (an acid rain ingredient), nitrous oxide and mercury into the air. Clean-coal technology proposes storing some of the carbon dioxide underground in a liquefied form. The technology is called carbon capture storage. It is anticipated that this will take an additional 25 percent more energy above and beyond what is being produced for normal use. So now we get into even more mountain-top removal, which is an environmental disaster in its own right.
The cost of constructing such technology would double the cost of a new plant. Storing this liquefied CO2 is setting the table for additional environmental problems. This technology is not environmentally wise, since there is no guarantee that the underground storage sites will not leak. The technology cannot be retrofitted to an existing plant, at least not economically. Thus, current coal-fired facilities will simply be run until their 50-year retirement age is reached.
I believe we can be well down the road to sustainable, renewable energy -- be it solar, wind or thermal -- before that time is up. My vote is to invest in truly clean power generation, not to toss money down a coal chute.
Robert W. Menser, North Olmsted
------
Entire article posted -
source
