Discuss: Resources for Coal Fighters

Since this article was written, two of the plants listed above have been cancelled: (1) Matanuska Power Plant and (2) Pacific Mountain Energy Center.

For those interested in further action, an additonal avenue for involvement is http://coalswarm.org

What about the 5 coal power plants proposed to be built in Meigs County Ohio?  Our village of Yellow Springs is being asked to sign a 50 year contract with the power company.  There are many of us who oppose getting our energy in such a hazardous way.  We need and want help.
Edwin Lainhart

Alliant Energy has applied for permits to build another plant in Marshalltown, IA.

In texas multiple organizations are coming together to take on dynegy.

Mercury from coal fired plants have adversely affected every downwind fishery to the point that our “Public Trust” has been denied to all to eat the fish we catch safely. A class action suit should be initiated immediately to address this.
Jim Lynch
Rahway NJ

A struggle that deserves to be listed among the most intense being fought around the country is taking place in Nevada, where the Nevada Clean Energy Campaign, made up of Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, Western Resource Advocates, Sierra Club, Northwestern Great Basin Association, Public Resource Associates, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Great Basin Mine Watch, Planet X Pottery, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Citizen Alert, Nevada Conservation League, Nevada Citizens Against the Sempra San Diego Coal Plant, Parker Ranch, Nevada Energy Park, Grand Canyon Trust, Keep California Pollution in California, and Clean Air Task Force, is fighting three coal plants: Ely Energy Center, White Pine Energy Station, and
Toquop. More on these plants can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/3csme4

Utah groups have also gotten involved in the fight, including Utah Moms for Clean Air. Access information to these groups can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/35kps2

The FutureGen powerplant, which was supposed to showcase ‘Clean Coal,’ was cancelled when construction costs rose to $1.8 Billion.  That, according to Jeff Siegel of Green Chip Review stock market newsletter, would pay for a 275 MW concentrated solar plant.

Siegel makes an economic case for solar - most photovoltaic solar modules are guaranteed for 25 years. And the fuel costs for a solar plant are $0.

Coal plants obviously require coal. It must be mined, processed, and transported. Mining it occasionally results in the accidental death of coal miners, and buring it releases mercury into the biosphere, which gets into fish, and causes neurological problems, but those are ‘externalities’ that aren’t factored into the equation.

The fuel costs for the $1.8 billion coal plant would be $46 million, at 2006 prices. If the price of coal are fixed over the next 25 years, fuel for the 275 MW plant would cost $1.2 billion. If the price goes up just 10% per year, then the fuel costs will be $3.4 Billion.

So the the total costs for the electricity from coal could be estimated at $5.2 billion for the next 25 years. From a solar farm, $1.8 billion.

Here’s a link to a great summary by Lester Brown of the current status of the coal industry:

http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update70.htm

Brown believes we’re moving toward a national, and potentially international, moratorium on new coal plants. Lots of good material in here, and hot links.