■ 08 January 2009 | 5:00 AM
Cleaner coal in Dendron
Dendron Mayor Yvonne Pierce's favorable remarks about Old Dominion's Clover plant were an important aspect of the Dec. 15 article 'Residents weigh impact of proposed coal plant' on the proposed Dendron plant. Too often, people get information from sources such as the Internet that are inaccurate, misleading and even frightening. The mayor and council members should be commended for going to Clover for a firsthand look.
Today's coal-generated power plants are far cleaner than earlier coal plants. The environmental efficiency of this fleet has improved 70 percent per unit of energy produced, as measured by emissions of air pollutants regulated by federal and state Clean Air Act laws. The industry is striving to make them cleaner still.
Despite conservation and additional renewable sources, we will need more coal-generated electricity to meet our needs. Virginia and the nation face important choices to ensure available, affordable domestic energy sources. The best choices will be based on facts and science.
Ulysses T. Brown
Virginia Beach
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"... as measured by emissions of air pollutants..."
The industry is now better at reducing the amt of heavy metals, contaminants, & carcinogens released into the AIR from burned coal. But more now remains as solid waste. The recent Kingston TN coal ash pond disaster is a testament to the fact that "clean coal" still has a ways to go.
Hundreds of Coal Ash Dumps Lack Regulation
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/us/07sludge.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=coal&st=cse
The amount of coal ash has ballooned in part... because air pollution controls have improved. Contaminants ... that once spewed through the coal plants’ smokestacks are increasingly captured in the form of solid waste. Numerous studies have shown that the ash can leach toxic substances that can cause cancer, birth defects... in humans, & can decimate fish, bird & frog populations in & around ash dumps, causing developmental problems ... or fish with severe spinal deformities.
Clean Coal is a Misnomer
There is no such thing as "clean coal." It's an invention of advertising. Coal starts with the destructive practice of mountaintop removal. Burning coal under the best present situation pours tons of carbon into the atmosphere and poisons our oceans and seafood with mercury. We need to be perfecting other ways of turning generators from ethanol and biomass to geo and hydro electric. As an advanced technological society, we have the capability to do better and if we are to survive, we must.