Critics call Obama climate change plan a ‘war on coal’
[Desdemona strongly endorses a War on Coal.] By Sean Cockerham and Erika Bolstad
26 June 2013 WASHINGTON (McClatchy Newspapers) – President Barack Obama’s plan to curb climate change could transform American energy, potentially dealing a blow to the coal-fired power plants that supply much of the nation’s electricity but also pump planet-warming gases into the atmosphere. Mr. Obama rolled out his long-awaited plan in a speech Tuesday that outlined broad goals but left the specifics to be worked out over the coming months. “The question now is whether we will have the courage to act before it is too late,” he said in a speech at Georgetown University. “And how we answer will have a profound impact on the world we leave behind, not just to you but to your children and your grandchildren.” The president signaled for the first time that he will block the controversial Keystone pipeline if it is shown that it would worsen climate change. Keystone would tap Canadian oil sands that produce more greenhouse gases than other sources, but the State Department downplayed the climate impact in a highly disputed report. “The pipeline’s impact on our climate will be absolutely critical in determining whether this project will go forward,” Mr. Obama said. The overall plan the president rolled out calls for boosting renewable energy and efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings, and preparing the nation for the extreme weather impacts of a changing planet. “We’re going to need to get prepared,” he said. “And that’s why this plan will also protect critical sectors of our economy and prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid. States and cities across the country are already taking it upon themselves to get ready. Miami Beach is hardening its water supply against seeping saltwater. We’re partnering with the state of Florida to restore Florida’s natural clean-water delivery system: the Everglades.” The centerpiece of Mr. Obama’s blueprint is his promise to limit the greenhouse gas emissions of America’s power plants. The plants produce an estimated 40 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions that scientists link to global warming. His proposed new regulations could increase utility costs for American consumers and harm regional economies tied to coal, which generates about 37 percent of all U.S. electricity. Coal already is suffering as utilities switch to cheap and cleaner-burning natural gas, and pollution limits would speed its decline. Stocks of some major coal companies dropped in advance of Mr. Obama’s announcement. Coal state senators called the proposed regulations a “war on coal” that would hurt the economies and jobs in their states and the entire country. Pennsylvania’s Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, called Mr. Obama’s remarks “a rehash of the same old bad ideas we have heard for four and a half years.” “From making coal-fired electricity prohibitively expensive; to forcing taxpayers to subsidize inefficient energy; to burning more corn in gas tanks, the president continues to advocate policies that raise prices for consumers and destroy jobs throughout the economy,” Mr. Toomey said in a statement. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., did not lend support or oppose Mr. Obama’s plan but simply asked that the policy take into consideration the state’s natural resources, including natural gas, as a part of the solution. “Our state’s leadership in natural gas, propane, biofuels, clean coal, hydropower, nuclear, wind and other renewable energies can move us towards energy independence and create jobs across the commonwealth,” Mr. Casey said in a statement. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, said, “Declaring a ‘war on coal’ is tantamount to declaring a ‘war on jobs.’ It’s tantamount to kicking the ladder out from beneath the feet of many Americans struggling in today’s economy.” “Removing coal from our energy mix will have disastrous consequences for our recovering economy,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. “These policies punish American businesses by putting them at a competitive disadvantage with our global competitors. And those competitors burn seven-eighths of the world’s coal, and they’re not going to stop using coal anytime soon.” Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, called Mr. Obama’s plan a step backward for the economy. “The president’s plan will raise electricity prices for consumers and destroy southwestern Pennsylvania jobs supported by coal such as miners, boilermakers, laborers, electricians, operating engineers, steamfitters, plumbers, carpenters and more,” Mr. Murphy said in a news release. Michael Mann, a Penn State University climate scientist, praised Mr. Obama’s effort to limit carbon emissions from power plants, saying the president was forced to take executive action for a serious issue that could have “irreversible impacts on the climate.” In terms of what this plan will do for the state, Mr. Mann said he thinks it will give other sources of energy, not just natural gas but also renewable energy such as wind power, a competitive advantage in the energy marketplace. [more]
Coal is "war on life" – and the extinction of all living species in the biosphere. Hansen made this VERY clear – we need to leave this crap IN THE GROUND and never touch it. Otherwise, we will ALL DIE.
Time for a major f*cking REALITY CHECK.