Category Archives for e-News ~ Members’ Update
The Members’ Update, or e-News, contains important news and updates on ACC events, publications, and policy issues. The e-News is sent out eight times per year and is delivered only to ACC Members.
The Benefits of Applying the Fundamentals
(Admin note: This brief article was submitted by invitation to discuss the benefits of an established boiler optimization program for utilities. We believe ACC & CAC member companies, and the readers of the Coalblog will find their suggestions helpful.) The … Continue reading
Obama may be flexible on carbon permit allocation
From Reuters,
President Barack Obama
on Thursday indicated some flexibility over plans to sell carbon
dioxide permits to industry, but said they must be priced to encourage
reduced greenhouse gas emissions. …"If it’s so onerous that people can’t meet it, then it defeats the
purpose and politically we can’t get it done anyway, so were going to
have to find a structure that arrives at that right balance," Obama
said.
Is reducing CO2 emissions worth the cost?
In late January this year, the The Rosenkranz Foundation hosted a debate as part of the Intelligence Squared U.S. series. Held in New York City, the debate considered the proposition that "Major Reductions in Carbon Emissions Are Not Worth the Money."
The full audio of the debate is available on the NPR website. It is well worth listening to. Also interesting was the response of the audience after the debate. A large number of audience members switched from undecided to supporting the motion that carbon reductions are not worth the money.
It would seem that when more fully informed, the voting public’s minds can be changed on the subject of environmental issues. To the extent that the coal industry allows the issue to remain silent, they may be ensuring difficult times ahead.
NMA ACT Alert allows comment on EPA GHG rulemaking
The EPA is still accepting public comment on moves to extend the Clean Air Act to include regulation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Click here to review a just released NMA ACT Alert that rightly describes the potential outcomes of these proposed rules as having potentially "devastating effects througout the entire U.S. economy."
Through the same page, you can also send comments to EPA Administrator, Stephen Johnson, requesting that the management of this nation’s GHGs be left to our elected officials.
Comments will only be accepted to November 28th, therefore, persons wishing to take this opportunity to comment on the rulemaking must do so immediately.
Click here to access the NMA ACT Alert and comment submission form.
MIT research: Chinese coal infrastructure is modern
A November 1 article in POWER Magazine relates the findings of recent MIT research which investigates the rapid development of coal-fueled generation throughout China.
ACC comments on Senator Obama’s coal policy
Recent comments have been attributed to Senator Obama regarding the implementation of a cap and trade system for carbon dioxide emissions, that could "bankrupt" the coal industry or those who plan to build coal-fueled generation plants.
As a non-partisan organization, the American Coal Council does not take positions on the outcome of the election. Nor do we lobby for the implementation of specific policies or legislation.
It is extremely important, however, for both candidates to recognize the value and stability that the coal industry provides for our economy. "Bankrupting" the source of half of our electrical power would have profound negative economic, social, and environmental impacts.
Coal currently provides half of our domestic electricity supply. It does so at rates well below most other competing energy sources. "Bankrupting" one of our nation’s most abundant and affordable, energy resources would cause rapid increases in energy costs for main street and our nation’s businesses. Additionally, tens of thousands of jobs would be lost in our mining, utility, and related service industries.
The ACC believes that this issue points to the continuing need to educate policy makers on the pivitol role that coal plays in our economy.
EU Changes its tune on CO2 emissions from developing nations
In a dramatic shift away from their 15-year long commitment to the theme of "common but differentiated responsibilities,"EU nations have adopted a position very similar to the American notion that developing countries must commit to specific carbon reduction targets as part of the post-2012 Kyoto agreement.
Gore once again calling for direct action against new coal plants
Last September we reported in the Coalblog about former Vice President Al Gore’s calls for young people to engage in civil disobedience as a means of stopping the construction of new coal plants.
We are now treating the Earth’s atmosphere as an open sewer … I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking
bulldozers … and preventing them from constructing
coal-fired power plants.
In that post we also noted how NASA climate scientist James Hansen
continued in his moves further into a more extreme activist form of
"science" by joining Gore in his calls for direct action.
It seems to me that young people, especially, should be doing whatever
is necessary to block construction of dirty (no CCS) coal-fired power
plants.
At the September 24th meeting for the Clinton Global Initiative, the former Vice President upped the ante by once again calling for civil disobediance and direct action against new coal-fueled plants.
Chrysler to release EV vehicles for 2010
This Popular Mechanics article describes the Chrysler company’s plans to have at least three models of EV (electric vehicle) in production and for sale by 2010.
Biden: “No coal plants here in America”
According to this Wonk Room (Think Progress) blog posting, Senator and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, stated — at a September 17, 2008 campaign stop — that the Obama campaign was "not supporting clean coal."
That comment came when Biden answered a question from an environmental activist in the crowd about energy options for the country. In response, he clearly stated his strong support of renewable energy technologies like solar and wind and then moved on to attack coal as "dirty" and claimed it was "causing people to die." He made it abundantly clear that he was "not supporting clean coal."