Why is Obama Talking about ‘Clean Coal’?
28 February 2009 8:36 am by Taylor Marsh
–updated–
Psssst… Hey, Mr. President, there is no such thing as “clean coal.”
It makes the Reality Coalition’s new ad hilarious, but then it would be. It’s done by the famous Coen brothers. The message is not, but it’s hard to permeate the deniers’ world. Even Obama mentioned “clean coal” in his Tuesday speech. Silly for a man so smart, also a bit embarrassing. It’s not like Al Gore, who is part of the Reality Coalition, doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
… Let’s be clear: there are no US homes, factories, shopping centers or churches powered by coal plants that capture and store their global warming pollution.
Today, coal power plants emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the pollutant causing the climate crisis. A third of the America’s carbon pollution now comes from about 600 coal-fired power plants. And of the more than 70 proposed new coal power plants, barely a handful have plans to capture and store their CO2 emissions. If these dirty plants are allowed to be built, this will mean an additional 200 million tons of global warming pollution will be emitted in America each year. Until coal power plants no longer release CO2 to the atmosphere, coal will remain a major contributor to the climate crisis.
So what’s the deal with President Obama saddling up to “clean coal”?
Sometimes confrontation is required.
Oh, and I almost forgot, on the climate change issue alone we’ve got quite a brouhaha that has bubbled up between environmentalists and George Will. Because of the work of Media Matters and others, including readers, the Post is feeling the heat. Even the ombudsman of the Post was pressured on Will’s latest climate change denier rant, responding in a column which will run tomorrow (but is now online). Senator Kerry’s got a fantastic post up taking on George Will. Like I said, sometimes confrontation is required.
Disclosure: The Reality Coalition is an advertiser on this blog, though no agreement to cover the issue comes with that placement.
OK, Mr. President, how about we start actually listening to scientists and environmentalists and not big money contributers?!!!
I’m not saying coal doesn’t have a place in our long term energy strategy, because we have so much of it and it could be a bridge to sustainable sources… but I have to agree, CLEAN and COAL are to words that don’t go together. We need a new way to discuss it that reflects reality.
So far I’ve been awfully disappointed in energy policy, but I guess it’s still early. They seem focused solely on reduction of consumption, not green production. Mentioning clean coal is a pandering to coal producing states (clean coal is BS).
I’m utterly shocked they canceled work on Yucca Mountain. Utterly short sided, and it looks like it’s pandering to Reid.
I say give the man a chance, he’s only been President for 30 some days.
Warning this is a drive by -
I’m willing to give him a chance but he also needs to stop saying things that aren’t accurate like – we are importing oil at the highest level in our history. That is factually incorrect.
I believe they are trying to figure out a clean way to use our very abundant coal, no one will ever find the broad popular backing by suggesting that we should lower our standard of living. We are going to have to look at ALL alternatives to imported oil.
Kris.,please post were Obama is wrong.
Anyone listening to Lamebrain? He’s on CNN. I want to scream at the TV, or turn the channel, but hubby says we need to listen to the enemy.
Is lamebrain limpwithnoballs or Lieberman?
limpwithnoballs, sec. Hubby calls him Rash Lamebrain
He spoke for an hour and a half at CPAC. And riled up the neo cons.
I can just imagine, face all beet red, sweaty, huffing hard with the exertion of just keeping his bulk in an upright posture while his jowels quiver as he shrieks out his insanity. EEEEEeeeeeeuuuuu! Can you get your mind around that bimbo being money hungry enough to look up at that for a couple of years to earn that payoff/alimony?
Isn’t it sort of odd that NONE of his three X wives has ever spoken about being married to the greasey impotent drug addict? Think there was a silence stipulation in the settlement?
WO BABY!! Just checked out mister limpwithnoballs over at Huffpo. BWAHAHAHAHA! The mound of feces is FATTER THEN EVER!!! I SWEAR I thought he was going to burst an artery while he ranted!!! Can’t WAIT to dance a jig when I hear the newsflash that his clogged arteries have just exploded!! BWAHAHA!
LOL, sec. He is a piece of work. I can not believe that they think that much of him. He really said some terrible things. But then the neo cons are pretty terrible in their thoughts.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
28 February 2009 at 7:48 pm
Betsy says:
28 February 2009 at 8:12 pm
LOL, sec. He is a piece of work.
_____
He’s going to have to have his stomach stapled or he’ll be home bound soon… he is HUGE. His penchant for excess will be his downfall, mark my words.
I’m sure you’re right GeoT. Thanks to Limbaugh and all the neo cons, the Republican party that I remember years ago is NOT the same party. It’s filled with radical right wingers and the fundamentalist Christians. Sad. I really believe that McCain screwed up by trying to be one of them.
justlen says:
28 February 2009 at 1:21 pm
Well, I’ve been at CPAC all day, but are you kidding me? Yucca Mnt. was a debacle from the start.
angels81 says:
28 February 2009 at 2:26 pm
He’s had meetings with Al Gore. Obama’s being obtuse, to put it kindly, on “clean coal.”
When he said clean coal the other night, I almost choked.
Taylor, I take it you heard Rash at CPAC. He really is a radical.
OH BABY!!! Ms. marsh, did you actually MEET ol limpwithnoballs there?!?
Is it just me or does it seem most of these repugs are either self hating, closeted gay or fat, white males that couldn’t get laid wandering around in the tenderloin in SanFran with hundred dollar bills hanging out of every pocket?
Have you ever tried to contact or interview any of his THREE X-wives?
I recommend you consider Palin’s suggestion to build the gasline from Alaska.
Clean coal is truly fueling middle America. That’s the rub.
You liked how he got those middle state votes. You won’t like it when he loses them.
Palin is offering an alternative.