Obama: Bankrupt the Coal Industry
November 3rd, 2008 | by Sqotty |Foxnews and SFGate are carrying a piece concerning an interview Obama gave early this year where he mentioned his plan to bankrupt the coal industry (from Foxnews):
“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.” Obama said, “That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in wind, solar, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches. The only thing that I have said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.”
We’ll set aside the fact that using coal to generate electricity has grown more efficient and less polluting (which is not to say it is pollution free) and focus on the intent. He wants to take coal-powered plants off of the table. With nuclear energy off of the table, that leaves natural gas, wind, and a few other technologies left to fill the gap in powering our nation. Is he nuts? Well, yes, he is. But we know that already.
By taking coal, along with nuclear, off of the table, there will be greater demands for power plants to use natural gas. Sure it is cleaner. It is also how most households heat their homes. This increased demand will force dramatic increases in natural gas. End result, more working class people will find it hard to make it through the winter on their ever-more taxed paychecks.
There are those on the Left who think that bankrupting the coal industry is a good idea. But be careful what you wish for…the consequences of doing so will be astronomical.
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Tags: American Politics, Campaign 08, Coal, Energy, Obama
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