Clean Coal and Business As Usual
Author: Roger Vanderlely
Article Posted: 07/06/2008
The difficulties we face in weaning ourselves off fossil fuels are immense. Renewable energies are still small players in the global power scene and biofuels have their own inherent problems. None of these energy sources are yet poised to rescue us from our fossil addiction.
No wonder then that the concept of so-called "clean coal" is appealing to both industries and governments. It holds the promise of clean electricity without the need for a massive change in infrastructure. In other words, it can be business as usual without the damaging emissions.
The problem with clean coal is that the technology is not yet a commercially proven solution. In a move likely to be mirrored around the world, the Australian government recently ditched its support for solar energy in favor of pursuing the development of clean coal technology. For any other form of energy supply still in development such backing from government would be seen as ludicrous.
This approach is dangerous. Solar and wind are proven energy generating technologies that are ready to be implemented NOW. Commercial production of these technologies could easily be ramped up to meet new energy demands and replace existing power stations. Ignoring these in favor of a method that does not yet exist and that may not even work is foolhardy.
If climate change is not addressed the economic losses alone are beyond imagination. They will make the amount of money saved by continuing with coal instead of solar power look like a drop in the ocean. Once the environmental damage is done, the cost of fixing the problem will be vastly more than preventing it in the first place. Add to this the fact that coal is still a finite resource and the foolishness of proceeding with clean coal becomes even clearer.
We have the technology and ability to implement solar and wind power on a large scale. It is time for political leaders of developed nations to make decisions based on what is good for the Earth and our future on it rather than pandering to the mining sector in an attempt to secure themselves another term in office.