Educate Nic: Clean Coal
Though I have often been called a know-it-all (a compliment I think), there are actually quite a few things I about which I am relatively uneducated. Pride tells me to ignore these things as beneath me or scan the internet for just enough information to seem up-to-date. Usually, being somewhat weak of ego, I bow to pride and slink off to Wikipedia for a dose of Internet knowledge. However, occasionally an issue seems important enough to actually ask someone, and that is what this post is all about.
What do you know about clean coal? I know enough not to trust the billboards, erected by coal companies, that tout its world-saving potential, but not enough to validate everything on a site like Coal is Dirty. I know that clean coal isn’t necessarily clean (come on . . . it’s coal), but are there potential benefit? Do those benefits outweigh the dirtiness? Can I use my years of saved Christmas stocking gifts to cleanly power my home? Basically, is coal redeemable?
Use the comments to educate me, or send me an email.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
There are two fine minds at work on this: Ed Mazria and Wallace Broeker. Mazria says “no coal” and Broeker says “carbon capture”. Broeker’s point is that we will never stop China and the US from using their cheap coal and we must find a way out. Mazria doubts that there is enough time to find the technology. I say support both; reduce, reduce and reduce some more, while funding research into carbon capture- maybe we could transfer investment in a few weapons systems in order to save civilization?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/24/carbonemissions.climatechange1
http://www.architecture2030.org/2030_challenge/index.html
Thanks for the comment and the links. I found the carbon capture article particularly interesting. There is a sense of realism to the approach that I enjoy.
I agree with you. Increase efficiency, decrease use and do everything you can to repair the damage already done.
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