Gone With The Wind Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/29/2008 02:36:00 PM

                                    

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.

                               

Governors Realize Benefits Of Clean Coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/28/2008 05:05:00 PM

                                    

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.

                               

                                                                                                    

                                    

On the campaign trail in Athens and Lancaster, Ohio Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/28/2008 05:01:00 PM

                                    

                                                                      

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.

                               

Value Of A Public-Private Partnerships Becoming More Apparent Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/28/2008 02:34:00 PM

Seems we’re not the only ones who recognize the importance of a partnership between private industry and the federal government to bring new, advanced energy technologies to the marketplace.

According to Greenwire, General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey Immelt addressed the National Governors Association this week and said: "We can't allow this to be a coal-state versus non-coal-state, winners and losers. The notion that it [coal] is not going to be part of the future is just not right."

The article continues:

Immelt said the government must play a major role to help spur development of advanced coal technologies. The first wave of technologies will be more expensive as industry moves down the "learning curve" to reduce costs, he said.

The first 10 to 12 plants must move forward under some form of "national framework" -- he did not provide specifics -- in order to spur the low-carbon coal technologies into the marketplace, he said.

GE, which is known for its Ecoimagination campaign, has a staked interested in all energy technologies, including wind, solar, natural gas, nuclear power and coal. For more information on GE’s advanced clean coal focus, here’s information on the IGCC plant near Tampa, Florida. (See here.)

The latest from Lancaster Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/26/2008 05:03:00 PM

                           

 

                                                                      

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.

Here's the latest dispatch from our team in Ohio:

After we hit the Athens local media outlets, we quickly headed to Lancaster which is about a 45 minute drive. Luckily for us, Bill Clinton was running late so the more than 600 people in attendance were lined up and anxious.

We were able to provide them with good reading material and conversation for their wait in line. Everyone loved the pens and stickers like usual, but they were all extremely talkative and informed about coal. It is clear that Ohioans have a long history with the coal industry and understand its importance.

We were even able to provide some warmth to a little boy in need (see picture). It was a very successful day spreading the word about coal’s impact on Ohio!.

Our Clean Coal Team Visits The Ohio River Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/25/2008 05:00:00 PM

                                    

                                                                      

Louisville’s Polar Bear Plunge is a strange tradition. It’s an annual fundraiser for Special Olympics in which a couple thousand people committed to charity - or in much more need of actually being committed! - jump into the Ohio River.

Luckily for the cold participants, we provided them with a handy "Clean Coal" t-shirt to wear when they popped out of the water.

We handed out about 1,300 t-shirts in two hours at this event

                                                                      

                               

Hello from Colorado! Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/25/2008 04:59:00 PM

                                    

Here's what we've been doing in Colorado the last few days: We went to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and talked to airmen, cadets and their family about the benefits of clean coal. Everyone we spoke with was very receptive of our message and concerned about the national security benefits of supporting American coal.

From there we left for the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, where Executive Director David Carroll was excited to see us and said he is considering incorporating a new exhibit to promote clean coal. He asked us for a bundle of literature and shirts to pass out to tour groups that come daily. It is rewarding to speak to someone who is so passionate about the cause and educating the public!
Our next stop was Pike Peak Community College, where we spoke with over 20 students, including a writer for the school paper The Potty Mouth, who offered to distribute our materials to the school’s Ramport Range, Downtown Studio and Centennial satellite campuses.

Next, we visited students at the Colorado State University campus at Pueblo. We also talked to people at the courthouse and City Hall.

Thanks, Colorado, for participating in the dialog about America’s energy future!

                               

Dispatch from Cleveland, Ohio Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/25/2008 04:33:00 PM

Posted by:  Joe Lucas    

                                                               

                                    

                                                                     

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.

We came to Barack Obama’s rally at the Cleveland Convention Center and capitalized on the Obama fervor by handing out clean coal materials to his long line of supporters.

All of the attendees were extremely receptive and eagerly took our handouts, t-shirts and hats — we gave out over 400 shirts.

                               

Clean Coal Hits The Open Road Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/22/2008 04:32:00 PM

                                    

Where do I even begin?

In advance of our activities in Ohio, our America’s Power vans have been working their way to the Buckeye State, spreading the message about American coal along the way.

Some of us spent Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas, where we handed out packets to the city’s Chamber of Commerce and chatted up the editorial staff at the Wichita Eagle and Wichita Business Journal.

                                                                      

Meanwhile, one of our vans was in Salt Lake City, where we talked to a local news reporter in front of the state capitol building (see above photo). We also visited with students at the University of Utah, including the staff at the school newspaper, The Chronicle.

From there, we stopped in Brighton, Colo., to meet with a reporter at the Brighton Blade. Then we headed to Commerce City, Colo., to meet with Norm Union of the Commerce City Beacon. He asked us for a shirt, and we left him with information on clean coal.

In Denver, we handed out information to about 60 people in front of the capitol building and the Denver Mint. We also stopped by the Colorado State University campus and handed out t-shirts and talked to about 80 students. We also visited with Jared from the student radio station.

While all of this was happening, we had another America’s Power van working its way through Virginia. It stopped in Richmond before traveling 200 miles to Roanoke, making stops in Waynesboro and Stauton.

                                                                      

 

Reporters were interested in the van (see above), and we did an interview with Kathy Still of the Bristol Herald Courier and Velden Hill of WWVA-TV, the local NBC affiliate. The TV interview will air tonight.

By the way, near Wytheville, Va., the interstate highway system presented us with what appears to be a geographic impossibility. Whether through a polar anomaly or an actual rip in the space-time continuum, we suddenly found ourselves traveling both north and south at the same time. Take a look:

                                                                      

                               

Backyard Trees vs. Solar Power Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/21/2008 02:35:00 PM

                                    

As I’ve said many times before, every fuel source to produce electricity has its pluses and minuses. But in all my years in this energy policy industry, the story I read this morning is a first even in my book!

“SUNNYVALE – In an environmental dispute seemingly scripted for eco-friendly California, a man asked prosecutors to file charges against his neighbors because their towering redwoods blocked sunlight to his backyard solar panels.

But the couple next door insisted they should not have to chop down the trees to accommodate Mark Vargas' energy demands because they planted the redwoods before he installed the solar panels in 2001.”

This is in no way a “knock” on solar power — we need every fuel source available to us to produce enough affordable energy for all Americans. However, it just is another example that sometimes even the most genuine of intentions can be fraught with unexpected consequences in the complicated realm of energy solutions.

                               

Dispatch from Topeka, Kansas Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/15/2008 05:02:00 PM

                                                               

                                    

                                                                      

Our team arrived in Topeka to educate citizens and the state Legislature about energy policy prior to an important state Senate vote on clean coal. We drove the clean coal van around the capitol and talked to groups entering into the Senate chamber as well as people who were visiting the capitol building — about 60 people in all.

We even outfitted some of our newfound supporters with “clean coal” t-shirts.

Following our activities, the Senate approved the clean coal bill 33-7.

The state House is set to vote on the legislation next week, so we’ll be sure to stay active.