Here is a link to a recent op-ed by Al Gore that appeared in the New York Times titled "The Climate for Change" ,where he covers global warming, energy and the economy.
Notice his dismissal of "clean coal" as imaginary and his 5-part plan for American energy, which includes "putting a price on carbon". While he doesn't explicitly state it here, this means a carbon tax. Gore has been pushing for a carbon tax for a while.
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Expensive polluting or imaginary, “clean coal,” has big bucks supporting it. It will continue to exist until investments are zero and profits too. Until then it will keep on being an idea as long as it's available as a cheap energy source. As long as consumers make it viable it will exist.
To put "clean coal" 6 feet under, heavy penalties must be inflicted on demand, not supply. That should do it! Until then go for the carbon tax. That should start the hearse rolling.
I think that once the protection of the environment makes it on the formal agenda and not just the public agenda, actions will take place. Especially that now both the Senate and the House are Democrat, along with the President, things will get done much more easily with less controversy. It will need to be done slowly and efficiently, as more R&D will be performed in the field. Let's just hope Mr. Obama elects a competent person for head of the EPA who will follow the code and purpose of the EPA and that the pannel of concerned scientists is not ignored as it was in the past 8 years. I think that when the transportation of renewable resources is figured out the entire situation regarding energy sources will change because we will now be able to move on progressively. I have read q proposed bill about making green governmental buildings, great way to start. But I also believe that most of the work needs to come from Americans themselves. If we want to lead this movement, we need to take part of it and not just rely on the government. Giving up some freedoms to gain others... I think that on behalf of our life-supporting environment I'm willing to do so.
"Clean Coal" technology is not imaginery...if man could walk on the moon, then it's possible. THere is only a question of "when?"
Time will not wait for us.
The carbon tax would indeed cause business owners to take greener technology into consideration during their decision-making processes. PErhaps subsidies could work as well where those companies that invest in the technology could get write-offs on the materials used. Would provide more incentive for going green.
More and more it seems to me that local efforts are more effective that those taken at the national level. The bottom-up approach is important in achieving set goals. incentives at the local level could probably achieve more quicker than those at the top. I say this because there may be less resistance to the change needed if the local communities feel that they are a part of the effort rather than merely subjected to it.
I like the idea of a carbon tax. Couple this with incentives and subsidies for green technologies and i think we have a winner.
More on clean coal here at ENN:
http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2711
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