SOTU
On 1/31/18 12:36 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 1/31/2018 11:14 AM, Keyser Soze wrote:
Trump is your evangelism. You're in the bag for him, and it makes you
nervous when everyone else doesn't share your Trump fandom.
Trump announced in his State of the Union speech that his
administration had “ended the war on beautiful, clean coal.”
It was a puzzling remark. Most of the coal plants Trump has tried to
boost are hardly clean compared with other forms of energy. In fact,
they create some of the most polluting power there is.
Rather than just regurgitating the approved position of the left
regarding coal, let's examine the real world, shall we?
First of all, coal still generates 30 percent of the energy used in the
United States.* It is second only to natural gas that produces 34 percent.
Energy produced by nuclear power currently supplies 20 percent.
Renewable energy sources consisting of hydro, wind, biomass, solar and
geothermal contribute 15 percent.
"Petroleum" makes up 1 percent.
Looking forward and planning for future energy needs, the outlook for
nuclear power looks bleak.* There are 61 nuke plants in operation with
one new one that came on line in 2016.* Two more are being built in
Georgia* despite calls to stop their construction.* If completed, they
will come on-line some time in 2021 or 2022.* However, the scheduled
shutdown of existing and aging nuke plants is happening faster than new
plants can be approved, permitted and built.* Plus, the cost of a modern
nuke plant is incredibly expensive.* So, we can't plan on that 20
percent of energy for very long.
For future planning, where will that energy deficit come from?
Renewable sources are being built anywhere land can be acquired and
permits can be obtained.* But, despite technological advances especially
in solar, it's a stretch to think renewables can contribute enough to
produce as much power as coal, nuke and the 15 percent they contribute
now. Some of the sources have devastating affects on geology and other
environmental concerns.
Technological advances is being, and should continue to be developed to
keep coal in the game.* Coal supplies in the United States are far more
plentiful than domestic oil or natural gas; they account for more than
90 percent of the country's fossil fuel reserves and more than 60
percent of the world's fuel reserves.
It's a planning thing ... not an idealistic brain fart.
Try reading for content. My comment was about Trump boasting about
"ended the war on beautiful, clean coal."
Coal isn't beautiful or clean.
|