Don’t like crude oil or unclean coal? Fossil fuel companies had an answer for you – clean, safe natural gas. Of course, burning natural gas still creates air pollution, including large amounts of greenhouse gases, but what the heck – it’s better than other fossil fuel alternatives, right?
Until the natural gas explodes, yes, it’s much better. Until it explodes, as it did today in Middletown, Connecticut, injuring at least 100 people, and killing an unknown number.
The power plant was run by the Kleen Energy Systems. Strictly speaking, the site is still Kleen, even though it definitely isn’t clean.
To be fair and balanced, of course, we have to acknowledge the deadly wind and solar power disasters… of which there have been precisely none.
In fairness, Green Man, environmentalists successfully fight against wind projects (potential to whack migratory birds) and homeowner associations battle solar projects (ugly). Some environmental groups also work overtime to tear down hydroelectric dams, which provide cheap and spotlessly-clean electricity. So guess what? We burn more coal.
I’m a fan of breathing and all, but I also like my electricity. It makes my computer go, and my refrigerator too. And those zero-emission plug-in electric vehicles people are getting so worked up about.
Is there a reason of which you’re aware that so many people who speak for the environmental movement are unable to relate environmental protection to human needs?
Jenny, SOME environmentalists do that with wind projects. Those are the dumb minority of environmentalists who don’t realize that there are designs of wind turbines that don’t chop birds and bats.
There are solutions out there, and more coming all the time. You like your cell phone? Okay, go with the Yogen — http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/02/07/charge-your-phone-with-muscle-power/ Like your computer? Okay, the foot pedal power is coming soon.
To say that it’s coal or nothing, hydroelectric or nothing, natural gas or nothing, just isn’t accurate.
It’s not a matter even of us stopping the consumption we already have. It’s a matter of us stopping the expansion, and using technology to make what we need more efficient.
Human needs? You want to talk about that? Okay, let’s talk about the human needs of the families of the people who were killed and injured in Connecticut today. Let’s talk about the human needs of the people down in Tennessee who had their homes rocked off their foundations with toxic coal sludge, and the people in Alabama who got that same coal sludge next, and now can’t bear to walk outside their own homes.
Let’s talk about the thousands of neighbors of the Murphy Oil refinery in Louisiana who first had their land covered with hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil, and then had their air filled with toxic fumes.
You want to go head to head on human needs? Bring it on, Jenny. I’ll talk about the human needs of people across the USA who used to supplement their family meals by going fishing, but now can’t do that except in a tiny fraction of the streams and lakes, because mercury pollution has so thoroughly tainted the rest. I’ll talk about the human needs of the people who lived in the Applachian communities who mountains have been completely dismantled in search of coal to burn, and their hollows filled up with the toxic dregs. I’ll speak of the human needs of the people living near the 25 percent of nuclear power plants that are leaking radioactive tritium. I’ll speak of the human needs of the salmon fishermen on the Pacific Coast who for three years running have had no season whatsoever because the salmon there are nearly extinct.
You want to talk human needs? Let’s talk about asthma rampant across our country from polluted air. Let’s talk about men unable to make babies because of pollution in the water. Let’s talk about the pharmaceuticals flushed out into our drinking water. Let’s talk about the kids who have no place left to play.
Bring it on, Jenny. Bring it on.
men unable to make babies because of water pollution? green man, i think this could get some media traction. anything to do with erectile disfunction is huge these days. what’s with the two tubs anyway?