The Moss Landing natural gas power station in California. Image credit: Michael Kenna

By David DeFranza
September 30, 2010 “A good photograph,” Ansel Adams said, “is knowing where to stand.” For photographer Michael Kenna, that has meant standing in front of icons of industrial society: The power stations that supply electricity to factories and homes, offices and shopping centers. Though his eerie photos capture a sense of nostalgia, his subjects are completely contemporary. Coal, which is used to produce nearly half of the United States electricity, is also a major source of greenhouse gases. According to the Pew Center on Climate Change, burning coal is responsible for 20 percent of global GHG emissions. Without dramatic changes, this number will only increase. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (an organization with a clear interest in the expanded use of coal) says fossil fuel accounted for 25 percent of world energy use in 2003 and is expected to reach 28 percent by 2030. This indicates that the world would meet part of its expected 57 percent growth in energy demand with coal, which would be catastrophic for the atmosphere. …

Eerie Photos of Power Plants Show Dark, Coal-Dependent Future