Archive for February, 2008

Gone With The Wind

                                    

In the past, when I’ve pointed out the problem of an overly optimistic
reliance on intermittent power resources like wind, some of you have
suggested that I’m bashing wind power.

I’m not.

I support wind and other renewables, and I’ve said many times that
we’re going to need all of our available domestic energy resources to
help meet our nation’s growing energy demands. But for those who think
wind or solar can replace coal and other fuels used to meet base load
power demand, I think it’s worth pointing out what happened this week
in Texas.

If you haven’t heard, part of the electricity grid in Texas had to
cut power to some offices and factories on Wednesday when there simply
wasn’t enough of a breeze to for the wind turbines to generate energy.

As the Wall Street Journal writes: “the state is coming to grips with one of wind power’s biggest problems: the power flows only when the wind blows.”

As we have noted before, wind power is great, but it can perform only
when conditions are just right. That’s why it can help out at times but
cannot be relied upon for 24/7 power. Coal is different – it can be
used to generate electricity regardless of whether there is enough
wind.

So the lesson to be learned is that this isn’t a choice between coal
(and other traditional energy resources) or renewables (wind and solar)
– it is a matter of using both.

                               

29 February 2008, 2:36 pm | Posted in Carbon Capture | 1 comment »
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Governors Realize Benefits Of Clean Coal

                                    

The National Governors Association held its winter meeting in
Washington, D.C., and given everything that is going on with concerns
about rising energy costs and the economy, it stands to reason that the
topic of coal came up. Several key governors were talking about the key
role coal will play in America’s energy future.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) told the nation’s governors:
"Next-generation coal is going to need to continue to be part of our
energy future for this country. It is abundant, it is available, it is
Americanized in the sense that we control the supply. We would be
incomplete and doing a disservice to the debate and the ultimate policy
direction that we’re going to take if we don’t envision coal being part
of that."

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell (D), D-Pa., envisions an economic
turnaround if clean-coal technology takes off. "Coal states would be
back in business big time and the economies would flourish," said
Rendell, the association’s vice chairman.

And, if any of you doubt me when I say that all energy resources
(including coal) have both their pluses and minuses, it helps that
Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana (D) said essentially the same
thing. Coal "has a CO2 problem, wind has a reliability problem, solar
has a price problem, nukes have a price and radiation problem,"
Schweitzer said. "So all of those technologies have opportunities. but
they all have problems — coal’s no different."

The one thing we know for sure, is that we’re working on the
technologies to reduce CO2 emissions, just like we have with other
emissions that are currently regulated under federal and state clean
air laws. You’ve heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again: there
has never been an environmental challenge facing the coal-based
electricity sector for which technology didn’t provide the ultimate
solution. Meeting the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the
utility sector is not going to be the exception to that rule.

Bottom line, it’s good to see folks recognize that coal HAS to be a part of meeting America’s future energy needs.

                               

                                                               
                                    


                                    

28 February 2008, 5:05 pm | Posted in Carbon Capture | No comments »
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On the campaign trail in Athens and Lancaster, Ohio

                                    

      
   
       
   
                   
            
   
   
      

Note: While ABEC does not endorse any of the presidential
candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to
spread the message of our commitment to clean.

Our third day in Ohio was extremely successful — and still extremely
cold. We started the day in Athens, where former President Clinton was
speaking on behalf of his wife Hillary.

The event grew a crowd of about 500-700 people. The line started
extremely early and we were able to spend over an hour and a half
canvassing the crowd. Our shirts, hats, and pens were a huge hit as was
our discussions about clean coal.

We handed out over 150 shirts, 100 hats, over 400 pens and tons of
campaign print material. We heard many different stories of people
whose fathers or brothers or that they themselves worked in the mines.
While their stories varied, one thing was consistent—they all supported
clean coal.

We were also able to touch base with some of the local media. We dropped by Athens News before the event and were able to speak with their reporter at the event. We also stopped by the Athens Messenger and WOUB radio to talk about the clean coal mission.

                               

28 February 2008, 5:01 pm | Posted in Campaign 2008 | No comments »
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