Comments Helen W has made

Coal Reversal

Those who tout FutureGen technology as a near perfect solution to our energy needs should take off the rose-colored glasses.  For those of us living in the targeted area of eastern Montana where the strip mining would likely be done to feed this monster, there is another viewpoint.  Why turn productive farm and ranch land upside down to feed the dinosaur?

Investing in unproven coal conversion facilities hoping to successfully achieve all that is on their wishlist is likely to be quite disappointing, especially if the plant happens to be located in your area.  We all would like to believe that sequestering greenhouse gas is a done deal, but by their own admission, they indicate that "the project will test whether it can remain sequestered underground indefinitely."  Folks, this is just a test!

And incidentally, it doesn't measure up economically to other alternatives.  If this 375 megawatt power plant costs one billion dollars to construct, that's about $2.6 million per megawatt.  The newly built 135 megawatt wind farm in Montana cost around $150 million which comes to about $1.1 million per megawatt.

Biofuels plants are being built in numerous states throughout the midwest.  Construction time is about 2 years.  Oilseed crops are, and can be grown in a wide region of the country, contributing significantly to local economies.

Let's join the 21st century.On Climate campaigners warm to "advanced coal" and sequestration, despite Bush backing posted 3 years, 11 months ago 11 Responses