Coal's True Cost

Last evening's GOP CNN/YouTube debate and the Democratic presidential debate on November 15 were jointly sponsored by a coal industry coalition comprised of mining, railroad and utility interests.

Their high profile civic involvement is designed to further confuse American voters about coal's true cost to our society. Many of the Republican candidates have endorsed massive new subsidies for King Coal and dutifully parrot industry talking points including earnest promises of cheap "clean coal." Given that climate change is the most urgent threat to our collective survival, it is shocking that no debate moderator has pressed the candidates to clearly state their positions on "clean coal."

In fact, there is no such thing as "clean coal." And coal is only "cheap" if one ignores its calamitous externalized costs. In addition to global warming, these include dead forests and sterilized lakes from acid rain, poisoned fisheries in 49 states and children with damaged brains and crippled health from mercury emissions, millions of asthma attacks and lost work days and thousands dead annually from ozone and particulates. Coal's most catastrophic and permanent impacts are from mountaintop removal mining. If the American people could see what I have seen from the air and ground during my many trips to the coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia: leveled mountains, devastated communities, wrecked economies and ruined lives, there would be a revolution in this country.

Well now you can visit coal country without ever having to leave your home. Every presidential candidate and every American ought to take a few seconds to visit an ingenious new website created by Appalachian Voices, that allows one to tour the obliterated landscapes of Appalachia. And it's not just Arch Coal, Massey Coal and their corporate toadies in electoral politics who are culpable for the disaster. The amazing new website allows you to enter your zip code to learn how you're personally connected to the great crime of mountaintop removal. Using this website Americans from Maine to California can see these mountains and the communities that were sacrificed to power their home. The tool uses Google Maps and Google Earth as interfaces to a large database of power plants and mountaintop removal coal mines. A November 15, 2007 article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted the site as one of the most innovative, cutting-edge uses of these powerful tools. The site puts a human face on the issue by highlighting the stories of families living in the shadows of these mines.

Each day the coal barons from companies like Massey and Arch detonate 2500 tons of explosives-the power of a Hiroshima bomb every week-to blow away Appalachian mountain tops to reach the coal seams beneath. Colossal machines then plow the rock and debris into the adjacent river valleys and hollows, destroying forests and burying free-flowing mountain streams, flattening North America's most ancient mountain range. According to EPA 1,200 miles of American rivers and streams have already been permanently interred and 470 of Appalachia's largest mountains have simply disappeared, leaving behind giant pits and barren moonscapes, some as large as Manhattan Island. I recently flew over one 18 square-mile pit - Hobet 21 - which you can now tour on Google Earth!

We are literally cutting down the historic landscapes where Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett roamed and that are so much the source of American's values, character and culture.

Mountaintop mining poisons water supplies, pollutes the air and destroys hundreds of miles of North America's most ancient and biologically diverse hardwood forests and permanently impoverishes local communities. Millions of dollars earned from this criminal enterprise land in the coffers of the politicians now jockeying to lead our country to a "new energy future." Mountaintop removal is one of the biggest environmental holocausts in human history. Wherever you live, you have a connection-and a responsibility.

The effort to end mountaintop removal has been gaining steam over the past year. As of today, the leading Congressional plan to ban the practice has 118 co-sponsors-dozens more than last year, with over a year to go in the 110th Congress.

From Appalachia to the Western states of Wyoming and Utah, the strip miners have permanently destroyed some of the most beautiful country on Earth, leaving behind a legacy of misery and poverty. For too long Arch, Massey and their tame politicians have hidden their crimes in the remote poverty-stricken communities of Appalachia. This new website finally exposes this national disgrace for every American to witness. Our aspiring presidential leaders at the very least should be asked to explain their position on this shameful and corrupt enterprise.

Comments

[laurenc]

Bobby: tell me it's not true that you endorsed Hillary. Do you really think she'd ever investigate the link between vaccines and autism? Not in a million years. And John Edwards would. It's not too late to change your mind--we count on you as a truth teller.

[jmundstuk]

I don't know if anybody else said this, but I object to the use of the work holocaust here for many reasons, foremost for me is the use of hugely loaded words to pump up the importance of an issue that, conversely, reduces the meaning and impact of the word. Sadaam Hussein or the president of IRan are not Hitler or like Hitler; Iran is not Germany pre-WWII, etc. This kind of language debases rational discussion. Stop it!

[splashy]

Now that's a great website. I was appalled to find out recently that our electricity is generated with a coal-fired plant.

I wish there were some way we could put in solar power without all that up-front cost. Berkley has the right idea it seems to me - hopefully it will spread. Read about it here:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_7403483

[disenfranchised]

What this IS concerning is big coal and its devastating extraction processes.

It outlines the issue at hand. It gives people a way to do learn about the abuses of coal corporations. It even gives people a way to get involved without having to even get up off of our butts.

There are many other ways to get involved to change this problem, a complex problem which involves the corporate corruption and their lobbying power, global warming, our looming domestic energy crisis, contamination of our breathing air and ground water, etc. But sadly, most people are unwilling or unable to put their money where their mouth is and start with themselves.

There is no way for the federal government to subsidize their way out of these problems, and it has to start on an individual and community level.

co-ops not corps

[lamarguerite]

Thanks to Bobby Kennedy Jr. again, for exposing the truth. Until reading this article, I was really in the dark, so to speak, about the real cost of coal mining, to the environment and people's health.

My question is, why doesn't Bobby Kennedy Jr. run for president? I have had the great privilege of hearing him speak, twice, at fundraising events for Waterkeeper Alliance, and was so impressed with him. He's got charisma, and vision, and a track record to prove that he could be the man we need.

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com
'It's All About Green Psychology'

[solarfared]

Coal bad. Nuclear bad. Gee, if only there was some form of renewable energy that we could harness. You don't know of any, do you Bobby?

[sabocat]

Fine analysis, but what does your presidential pick, Ms. Clinton, have to say on the issue? She seems to be firmly in the pocket of the corporatocracy, so would anything change under her leadership?

[Dendroica]

We're losing the wood thrush, Bicknell's thrush, golden-winged warbler, and the cerulean warbler. These birds are travelers from the south, who breed mostly in Appalachia. Many of the birds who rely upon the western areas of the Atlantic Flyway for migration are losing refueling stations.

This may sound very trite, not very important to some, but there is an economic impact- ecotourism is about a quarter % of our GDP. Hundreds of thousands of foreigners come to the US every year to watch migration, and they contribute heavily to the economy of the gulf states, OH, NY, MI, ME, WI and our neighbors in the north in Ontario and Alberta, and the Maritimes. Entire communities in this nation derive their survival on the dollars birdwatchers, bear watchers, and campers bring in to their communities. Open up a magazine that caters to nature, or the sciences, and the pages are filled with ads for these communities, trying to entice people to come. Many of those ads, prominently feature West Virgina and Ohio.

Destroy the mountain today, destroy this lucrative business forever.

[Purple Girl]

Could you talk to the Michigan leaders who want to put 7 coal burning plants in our state.
Michigan seems to think we need to continue to drive Edsel's.
Michigan has many great Universities an dColleges (U of M & MSU) We have the infra structure for mass production that will conserve or creat clean energy- solar panels, wind mills. We have the energy of water. We still have that innovative spirit. Yet our "leaders ' keep looking back at the dinosaurs, hoping they will be resurrected.The Big three sat on their laurals and we have been struggling ever since the late 70's.We got our asses handed to US by the Japanese makers, because the Big 3 wanted to still play ball with the rich oil sheiks.
We're like the dead whore they left in the motel room.

[DanK]

I will guess that Mr. Kennedy is supporting Hillary Clinton because she is possibly the only electable and acceptable Democrat.

Obama's co-sponsoring of the "Coal to Liquid Fuel Energy Act of 2007" with KY's rep. Bunning demonstrates that he's no friend of the environment.

[glitzqueen]

Thank you for referring us to this refreshing website, Mr. Kennedy. There's a lot to love about ilovemountains.org! Besides offering a wealth of informational materials, they ask us only to "Spread the Word" -- quite a change from other groups' incessant appeals for money. It certainly made me want to carry the message forward. As this knowledge spreads, it's sure to build into a public outcry.

[nomorecars]

Nice article. Too bad it doesn't make up for Kennedy's opposition to the wind farm. If you're against wind and against coal, what are you for? Electricity for rich people only?

[Spookcatcher]

I am so taken aback by RFK Jr.'s endorsement of Hillary Clinton, while obviously recognizing He is a loyal Party Democrat, the judgement of doing so with such early timing, before the Convention or even one primary held is what upsets me. I think it may serve to me to be the definitive turning point for my me to start employing hard scrutiny when listening to anymore change crusaders and special interest defenders. They are going to have to temper their fits and fury with real time viable affordable solutions and and not just flag wave statistics and facts around for excitement about this issues.

[Not Blind]

Coal is NOT "cheap." In addition to global warming, adverse impacts of coal includes acid rain, mercury poisoning, asthma attacks, accidental deaths, lung diseases for miners, loss of forests, rivers, and mountains.
It's no wonder that coal companies open mines in areas with high unemployment and poverty. They recruit miners from local towns, who need jobs to provide for their families, while realizing their environment and landscape will change for the worse. They don't have much of a choice. All too often, once the mine has yielded all the coal within, the mountains are left barren, and the local citizens plunge into poverty and unemployment again. In the mean time, their health and quality of life have also deteriorated.
With other non-polluting, renewable energy sources available, there is simply no reason to rely upon coal and oil for fuel. Nuclear energy is more efficient, however the storage of waste is hazardous and potentially threatening to health and life. We already have the technology for solar, wind, water, ethanol and other forms of fuel that with some investment, research and development, could be adapted to provide most of our needs.
Our copious consumption is also to blame. We are but 5% of the world's population (in America), yet consume more than 25% of its resources. Other industrialized nations have a standard of living equal, if not better than ours, with much less waste and consumption.

[flatus]

Want to hear the best song about coal mining ever written?

Mark 'Dire Straits' Knopfler's "5:15 am"

Check it out.

[Orca41]

Gosh, Bobby, this would all sound less hypocritical if you hadn't come out against the Nantucket Sound wind project. I know, it's tough to have your view blocked when you are such an influential and powerful fella. Wind farms are only for blocking the views of us po' folk.

[CTYankee]

Thanks Bobby for shine a light on this important issue. I'm amazed at the comments I see here. Just because people might never visit these amazing areas of America's landscape, that makes it okay for us to destroy them forever? It's okay to pollute the environment and cause death and disease as long as we keep our electric bills from reaching $3000.
If we had a truely free market for energy where each source had to account for the total cost to society, we would have started looking for an alternative energy source a long time ago. We might also have more energy efficient homes and cars by now as well. Corporate control in Washington has allowed the energy industry to hide the real costs and so we continue to line the pockets or oil executives and their puppet politicans alike.
We must change our ways before it is too late. Think of our children and our grandchildren. One day they will look us in the eye and say why? What will we say? What will we say?

[quadman]

Here is a thought: When are the Long Valley and Yellowstone Calderas going to be exploited for their endless supply of cheap, safe, and clean energy? These two sources alone could relieve a major portion of the nation's energy cravings.

[Mormondude]

I've been to Kennecott Copper mine in Utah. It's not an eyesore. It's not offensive. It's beautiful in its own way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingham_Canyon_Mine

It is actually a tourist attraction. People flying into Salt Lake City can see it clearly, and I have never heard a single sob from an environmentalist.

This makes me think that most people all broken up about this horrible stain on humanity have never actual seen a mine like this in person, and they never would have visited any of these mountains.

Most libs think of 90% of the land out there as 'fly over country' anyway. And they don't seem to care whether China digs up every ounce of coal in their mountains, which I truly don't understand.

The CO2 is global. They would never see either mountain in their lifetime anyway. So they should be equally enraged, I would think.

[BTN]

Without coal we would have $3,000 electric bills and our toys and Tupperware would cost $500.

Whats your alternative that can supply our electricity needs until alternative fuel sources kick in?

http://theglobalwarmingtruth.com/

[DLSteinhardt]

Thank you, Mr. Kennedy.

What we know to be true gets terribly obscured once the obfuscationists start sloganeering with words like "clean coal".

[YankeeCanuck]

And globally? China is building a dirty coal plant or three per week. They will continue no matter what we say. Should we export our "clean coal" technology--possibly flawed as it is? China's cloud already reaches our west coast.
And the highly touted ethanol from corn? Every agronomist I've spoken to in Iowa says it's unsustainable. Why are we pouring billions into this program? Shouldn't we get the research done before implementing this technology that is an energy and resource drain in itself?
Unfortunately coal is the tip of the iceberg. Bad metaphor. Soon there won't be any.

[JimInArizona]

"Syntroleum Corporation (NASDAQ: SYNM), a synthetic fuels technology leader, has successfully completed a demonstration of its proprietary technology designed to convert coal into clean synthetic liquid fuels. The test run utilized synthesis gas produced from coal and Syntroleum's proprietary cobalt catalyst technology in the conversion process. The 2,500-hour bench-scale test run was recently completed at Eastman Chemical Company's Kingsport, Tennessee facility.

The demonstration proved that fuels made from coal have the same superior synthetic Fischer-Tropsch (FT) qualities as those made from natural gas. The demonstration also proved that Syntroleum's proprietary cobalt-based catalyst performs robustly under real-world coal-to-liquids (CTL) conditions, as was predicted from earlier extended life tests performed by Syntroleum.

"We have now proven that the Syntroleum Process(R), and specifically our cobalt catalyst, performs very well on live coal syngas in a commercial environment," said Jack Holmes, CEO of Syntroleum. "This is a great step for Syntroleum and we continue to believe that this technology will help pave the way to lowering our country's reliance on foreign sources of oil, by producing domestically sourced synthetic diesel and jet fuel."

[parisblues]

Thank you, Robert Kennedy, for keeping us abreast of this crucial issue, which needs to remain firmly on the table throughout the election year. And it's not just Republican candidates who need to be held accountable in this matter. An article by Elizabeth Kolbert in the November 12, 2007 issue of The New Yorker reports that Barack Obama is currently co-sponsoring a Senate bill to promote high-polluting coal-to-liquid (CTL) technologies.

[modmom]

Thank you Bobby! I just sent copies of this to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown in hopes that they will listen to you.

It's time to put the health of the environment over the profitability of big business.