A Move in the Right Direction

I have often thought of turning this blog into a coal related/environmental journal. But I do not have the resources or the exact know how to read Department of Energy papers. I have tried to track coal from the mine to the power plant but could no. I tried tracking investment company dollars from Boston back to WV but was unable. I even tried tracking the jet stream for a few weeks to show where the exhaust coal burning plants effects other parts of the nation.

Luckily, someone else has similar interests: Coal Tattoo.

If you did not read Bill McKibben's piece in the Washington Post yesterday, please do.

Also check out this related web page: 350.

More Coal News

A group of protesters were arrested yesterday at the WV state capital. They were protesting the DEP decision to allow Massey energy build a coal silo besides Marsh Fork Elementary School. Where is the governor who was so "heroic" at the Sago Mine disaster? If he allows that silo to be built I think he should be impeached!

Here the story. But go here for better coverage.

Speaking of the Sago Mine Disaster the official report done by the United Mine Workers of America was came out Thursday. You can read the report by clicking here.

Finally the NYTimes reported on a pilot project by American Power to pump carbon dioxide into underground chambers. The problem: no one knows what long term effects this may have on the environment. Also, why spend so much money on an inefficient source of energy? Sure it is cheap, but not if you take the total impact mining coal takes on communities, rivers, streams, wildlife, and global weather patterns and global warming! There is nothing cheap or clean about coal. American Power also operates the John Amos Power Plant in Big Scary, WV. (I believe the link should give you a picture of the plant) As a kid I was amazed at the huge clouds of steam they produced (my wife and I both thought that the plant produced clouds). But when you read that that particular power plant is the largest polluter in WV your mind goes from fascination to down right anger!

If you think that Big Coal still doesn't rule in WV...

This morning Ken Ward of the WVGazette has reported that the DEP board has ruled that Massey energy can build a new coal silo 300feet from Marsh Creek Elementary School. The board split on the vote but a majority ruled that Massey could build it.

I cannot believe this. Imagine the dust, constant rumble of trucks, not to mention the sludge pond up the hollar from the school. I just can't image how folks could rationalize the placement of this silo there.

Do you think it is just a conicidence that Google Maps does not have a satellite picture available for viewing of this region?

Luckily Yahoo Maps does! If you look at the area you can see what looks like a large lake, that is a slurry pond. A collection of coal waste, ie slurry. It is thick and nasty. In 2000 a slurry pond in Inez, KY broke. It was a larger ecological disaster than Valdez, there 267,000 gallons of crude spilled in Prince William Sound, in Inez 250 MILLION gallons of sludge spilled into 60 miles of rivers and streams. Unfortunately there are no penguins in Appalachia. Fortunately for, you guessed it, Massey energy there aint no penguins in Appalachia, the story received scant coverage by the major news media. The largest ecological disaster in the nation and it barely received coverage in All the News that is Fit to Print!

here is a follow up story by salon.com