If you don’t mind, I would like to take a second to say a couple words on coal…
What is there to like about coal as a major source of power in Virginia? That it is cheap? I don’t buy that. I am not about to pull out the spread-sheets, slide-rulers, and protractors — but just a quick (and unscientific) look at the big picture when it comes to coal can give you pretty good insight into the real cost of coal.
Coal is a primary killer of our climate. Coal now accounts for nearly half of Virginia’s energy consumed, a statistic that is disturbing at best considering the impacts that coal is widely acknowledged to be having on our climate. Global warming is impacting our Virginia’s coast lines, ecosystems, and economies today — continuing to use coal is committing ourselves to an uncertain future at best; a global catastrophe at worst.
Coal is killing residents of Virginia. Pollutants emitted from coal fired power generators in the region greatly increase incidences of cancer and asthma among all that are unlucky enough to breath in the toxic air. Coal is a major contributor to those “code red” smog days, particularly in the DC metropolitan area where coal power plants send 180,000 people to the hospital every year. The elderly, children and people with pre-existing health issues are particularly vulnerable and likely to be the affected.
Coal is killing coal miners. 400 coal miners die annually from black lung. 47 Coal miners died from mine related accidents in 2006 alone — an 80% increase from the previous year! The current and tragic plight of the six miners trapped in Utah is unfortunately not unique. CCAN wishes for their safe return and will work tirelessly to help ensure that one day we live a world where coal is no longer needed to sustain energy or employment needs.
So where am I going with all this? Add it up. Coal kills our climate which will impact our coastal economies through increased insurance costs, loss of land, and disaster relief aide. Coal kills regular people and coal miners alike and puts hundreds of thousands in the hospital cost individuals and tax payers a substantial sum. These unaccounted for consequences of coal cost us millions if not billions annually and that is unacceptable.
Solar panels don’t cause cancer. Wind power doesn’t raise our sea levels. Clean energy saves lives and money, both today and tomorrow.
