Realistic Policy On Coal Essential
By The IntelligencerDuring a major policy speech Tuesday, President Barack Obama made it a point to compare U.S. strategy in regard to energy independence to that of some other major powers. Some of them indeed could teach us much about energy policy. The question remains whether American officials - including Obama - truly are ready to learn.
"We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century," Obama said in his address to a joint session of Congress. "And yet," he added, "it is China that has launched the largest effort in history to make their economy energy efficient."
Ohio Valley residents are well aware of the lead China has over the United States in terms of realistic energy policy.
It will be remembered that last year, Consol Energy and a Texas company announced plans to build a large coal gasification and liquefaction facility in Benwood. The $800 million plant would have been a leader in production of energy in an environmentally sound manner.
But just months after the announcement, Consol's partner, Synthesis Energy Systems, of Houston, pulled out of the deal. SES officials said they would be building a plant similar to that planned for Benwood in China. They explained that the regulatory climate in China - combined with the availability of financing - convinced them to make the switch.
On Tuesday, Obama said the budget proposal he will send to Congress will include $15 billion a year to promote development of environmentally friendly energy sources. Clean coal technology is on the president's list.
But $15 billion is not much in the context of energy development. And Obama's preferences for new energy policy are so-called "green" initiatives involving wind and solar power, biofuels and more efficient vehicles. His energy secretary, Steven Chu, has made it clear he wants the United States to use less, not more coal.
Chinese leaders, on the other hand, are aware that coal - including liquefied and gasified forms of it - need to be part of any strong, prosperous nation's energy mix.
We agree with Obama that the United States is lagging behind some other nations in crafting sensible energy policy. China, as the president himself mentioned, is one of those countries.
More emphasis needs to be placed on use of coal if Americans are to lessen our reliance on energy from abroad. It remains to be seen whether Obama understands that and will pursue a realistic policy concerning coal.
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steelercrazy
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02-27-09 8:23 AM
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beanranch, I've email Larry a few times, he is a true son of West Virginia, fighting for our state. That's awesome that you were able to visit his mountain and homestead. I've got to get down there this summer.
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NancySI
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02-27-09 8:11 AM
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"But just months after the announcement, Consol's partner, Synthesis Energy Systems, of Houston, pulled out of the deal. SES officials said they would be building a plant similar to that planned for Benwood in China. They explained that the regulatory climate in China - combined with the availability of financing convinced them to make the switch." I could be mistaken but wasn't the plant in China already in process when the plans were announced for the USA plant? If so, is this another editorial that is misleading with pure fiction again? So the plant won't be built because regulations to protect human life would cost a few dollars of profit? Hmmm, same old, same old.
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beanranch
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02-26-09 10:05 PM
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steelercrazy- you are absolutely correct. I went down to Kayford Mountain last summer. Met Larry Gibson and saw firsthand MTR. It has to be seen to be believed. Larry and others such as Marie Gunnoe and Judy Bonds, have literally put their lives on the line to try to put an end to this devastating mining technique. If they haven't already done so, the pro-coal folks should research MTR.
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TruthSeeker
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02-26-09 9:59 PM
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How is our ilk truly what is wrong with the country? I'm certainly not a banker or a mortgage broker and I don't buy and sell securities or derivatives and I'm not a Republican so how can I be bad for our nation?
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steelercrazy
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02-26-09 8:49 PM
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TruthSeeker and JimJOnes, your ilk is truly what is wrong with this country. Congrats on your (lack of) accomplishment.
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doctor
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02-26-09 7:24 PM
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Hey, check out the new Clean Coal Ad-it's great: google Clean Coal Clean or The Coen Brothers Do Clean Coal
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doctor
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02-26-09 5:58 PM
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Love the sticking up for religious extremists (excorcist and person with witch doctor laying hands on them) by the Goppers (or professed conservatives). They didn't have mental health services and meds in Jesus's time, by the way.
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doctor
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02-26-09 5:54 PM
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ConservativeKaty, Geesh, seems like you did a 180-you've previously acknowledged there is no clean coal. So, do all of the other toxins mysteriously disappear when you put the carbon underground? Hilarious. By the way, how's West Virginia doing on it's water analysis and contaminants?
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 5:15 PM
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"LOL! She sure will. People will be voting against her in droves! " Quite true. I'll be one of those. :) I did feel sympathy for her though. McCain thrust her upon the national stage as a gimmick. It backfired, big time.
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TruthSeeker
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02-26-09 5:06 PM
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"She will do much better not being constrained by the McCain camp." LOL! She sure will. People will be voting against her in droves!
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TruthSeeker
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02-26-09 5:05 PM
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Oh I beg to differ. Palin IS a stupid rube. I have yet to make an observation about Jindal except that he lies like a Republican and has a goofy grin. No great shakes as an orator either.
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 4:53 PM
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steelercrazy, your absolutely right. Both camps have their fair share of racists, classists, and elitists. As for Gov. Palins performance with the media, I can only surmise that many of her sharpest critics were in fact threatened by her. I can see that. She came from humble beginnings and is largely self made. But then again, I see a lot of the criticism leveled against her as being warranted. Not the personal things, but her policy decisions and actions on the campaign trail. I think it will be interesting if she throws her hat in the ring for the next go around. She will do much better not being constrained by the McCain camp.
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steelercrazy
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02-26-09 4:29 PM
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I think I had at least 4 typos in my previous post. Just so all of you know, it's wasn't because of previous cocaine use and/or exorcism participation 8)
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steelercrazy
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02-26-09 4:17 PM
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Destroy, I respect your honesty. We all have biases. What bothers me is that Democrats/liberals seem to have a greater affinity for demonizing woman and minorities who just happen to be conservative. The party that supposedly strives for diversity hate to see anyone who normal falls into the Democratic camp to stray to the other side. Palin was ridiculed by the press for being a stupid rube (and she have some bad missteps, especially in the first few weeks after she was selected), but Vice President Biden makes really dumb remarks on a daily basis, and you barely hear the press make a peep. The double standard is absolutely striking.
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 4:07 PM
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I'd put my money on cocaine users. Just for the sheer fact that their numbers far outweigh those who have preformed an exorcism.
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 4:05 PM
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steelercrazy, point taken. I have judged Jindal on his past activities. No doubt about it. So yeah, I'm biased. Who isn't though?
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steelercrazy
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02-26-09 4:01 PM
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Intell/NR readers, which group would you guess has a higher collective IQ: People who have used cocaine, or people who have participated in an exorcism? My Vegas Line would be Cocaine Users +17 1/2 (neutral site).
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steelercrazy
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02-26-09 3:53 PM
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Destroy, you'd better believe it's apples and oranges, that was my point!!! BTW, Jesus commanded his disciples to perform exorcisms (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), so if you're calling Jindal stupid for participating in an exorcism, you're also ripping on the Big Man upstairs... Rock, I made a mistake: He admitted to blow in the 1980's, not the 1990's. My bad. From a WaPo (1/3/2007) story about "The Audacity of Hope": In the book, Obama acknowledges that he used cocaine as a high school student but rejected ******. "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Not smack, though," he says. Nothing subliminal or funny about that quote, is there Rock?
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 3:39 PM
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steelercrazy, apples and oranges. But you get an A+ for distraction techniques. Good for you!
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RockEReputation
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02-26-09 3:18 PM
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...if the reference to blow is meant as a subliminal joke then I am waiting for the next line...
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steelercrazy
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02-26-09 3:11 PM
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Yes Destroy, Bobby Jindal was present at an exorcism in 1994. Barack Obama was snorting blow in the mid 1990's as well. One is a matter of faith and perfectly legal, the other can get you put in the hoosegow. Please tell me which one makes you a dumber person???
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 2:48 PM
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TruthSeeker, good point. I keep hearing about how intellectual B. Jindal is, but then I hear about his participation in exorcisms and such. I do hope that CK realizes I hold no animosity towards her, just playful fun on my part. And I suppose that goes for all the posters on this site as well.
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TruthSeeker
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02-26-09 2:14 PM
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LOL @ Destroy and Katy! <aside to Destroy: Just goes to show you that there are some educated people who have no clue at all how to use such intellect...and certainly explains Jindal as well.>
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Destroyallmonsters
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02-26-09 1:50 PM
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ConservativeKaty, what a command of the English language you possess. It seems those numerous hours you dedicated at the altar of "Jumble" have finally payed off for you. Kudos and congrats.
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ConservativeKaty
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02-26-09 1:43 PM
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The Rabid Monster is myopically cycloptically dead wrong again. And to repeat, I am no comrade of the menacing and macabre Monster, whose own moniker demands it to self-destruct to save our human world.
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