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Washington DC coal protest planned in March
Bill Paul, Energy Tech Stocks
Circle March 2 on Your Calendar; Activists Plan Huge Coal Protest Near US Capitol; Arrests Expected
Leading anti-coal activists plan to stage a massive protest at a coal-fired power plant near the U.S. Capitol on March 2, 2009, right when the Congressional debate on capping carbon dioxide emissions could be at fever pitch.
In an open letter making the rounds of environmental Internet sites, well-known environmentalists Bill McKibben and Wendell Berry have called for “civil disobedience” including trespassing on power plant property, for which “we expect to be arrested.”
The letter notes that the environmental group Energy Action “is bringing thousands of young people” to Washington to join with local DC residents, people from Appalachia, and faith-based groups to protest what the letter characterizes as the “evil” that is coal. The protest is further intended to expose what the letter calls the “lie” that is “clean coal.”
While it’s too soon to know whether this protest will be as big as its organizers want, it could turn out to be the sort of dramatic event that dominates TV news cycles for days or even weeks.
(15 December 2008)
Rachel Maddow takes on ‘clean coal’ and its carolers
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC via Gristmill
Commentator Rachel Maddow highlights The Clean Coal Carolers — a bizarre web offering from the coal lobby. Animated lumps of coal sing praises to coal as a power source, based on traditional Christmas carols. The coal segment begins about 1:30 minutes into the video.
I originally had a link to the Clean Coal Carolers themselves, but website took it down. The re-purposed Christmas carols included:
“Frosty the Coalman” (Frosty the Snowman)
“Abundant, Affordable” (Adeste Fideles)
“O’ Technology” (O’ Christmas Tree)
“Deck the Halls” (with Clean Coal!)
(11 December 2008)
Coal saga burns into 2009
Tim Carpenter, The Capital-Journal
Advocates of energy legislation that did a slow burn through the 2008 session remain divided on a new strategy for overcoming obstacles to approval of a controversial $3.6 billion coal-fired power plant in western Kansas.
House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, favors an up-or-down vote in the House and Senate on a coal bill that would end a blockade imposed by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. On the other side of the Statehouse rotunda, Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said lawmakers should weigh construction of the new plant within the context of a comprehensive energy bill.
(December 15, 2008)
League of Conservation Voters’ Karpinski says ‘clean coal’ claims by industry untrue (video and transcript)
Monica Trauzzi, E&E TV
On the campaign trail, President-elect Barack Obama touted “clean coal” as a key part of his energy platform. As he transitions to the White House, how will his administration shape policy to promote the research and development of carbon capture-and-storage technology?
During today’s OnPoint, Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, explains why he believes the coal industry’s use of the term “clean coal” is a mischaracterization. He urges the deployment of alternative forms of energy, such as wind and solar, instead of the construction of new coal-fired power plants.
Karpinksi also comments on how the chairmanship shift in the House Energy and Commerce Committee will affect energy policy and climate legislation during the next session of Congress.
(10 December 2008)
Michigan must pull the plug on coal
ANNE WOIWODE and CYNDI ROPER, Detroit Free Press
For carbon dioxide-emitting coal plants, the writing is on the wall.
Coal plants are the No. 1 culprit behind the current climate crisis that is threatening the Great Lakes, the health of Michigan citizens and Michigan jobs.
(14 December 2008)
