Is it possible that it’s only a few years since we learned that Kerr McGee oil interests in Oklahoma were sitting on the world’s largest coal reserves? And haven’t we been told that the cost of “cleaning up” coal is staggering?
Perhaps change under the new 2009 administration is not possible as promised. A ten year program to provide coal that will not pollute the air when burned laughs in the face of a two year period to begin a program that would guarantee North American Energy Independence for the rest of the century! Is this a Bush legacy?
FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the power to fully open up the gates to Canada and allow hydro power to replace the coal that makes the United States the largest polluter of air on Earth.
Commonwealth Edison of Chicago burns coal at the mine and sends the power made there to Chicago.
FDR’s great hydro-power project in Tennessee, the TVA, now produces 75% of its power output by BURNING COAL! And ask TVA customers what happened to their electricity costs. And coal ash sludge that ruined homes, lakes and rivers leaving carcinogens in the ground and wildlife in danger. And Tennessee is not the only place.
We will discuss what is really green in a later edition. But for now let’s ask some serious questions.
The President says that our economic situation requires prompt and huge action. Well, so does our energy supply from the points of view of both economics and international politics.
Earlier we have had a look at the various forms of energy that make civilized life a lot more comfortable than the aboriginal. We’ve also had a chance to look at the good and bad results of the use of the various energy forms available today.
Our Canadian neighbors – and partners – have made a serious study of energy conditions as they exist today throughout the entire Northern Hemisphere and their thoughts are provocative and worthy of our attention and at least some action.
The Canadian Electricity Association finds the problems in three categories:
1. Serious lack of clarity around market rules (US and Canada)
2. Pressure of environmental changes particularly re: GHG (greenhouse gases)
3. Lack of clarity of both 1 & 2 causes a very poor investment environment.
According to a major banking firm, there are literally trillions of US Dollars sitting out there waiting for an improved investment climate. In our next blog we will discuss the CEA “Prescriptions” to help solidify market integration and therefore clean energy.
Please Mr. President, Open the Gates, Tear down the wall.
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