Dirty business
The Wyoming and Montana coal that's going to roll through Portland on its way to China -- and then come back as acid rain -- is going to be tough on the environment in both directions. Here's a warning from the federal EPA about the coal dust that's going to be stirred up on the outbound journey:
EPA's letter pointed to diseases caused or aggravated by breathing coal dust and diesel emissions. Coal dust is also an environmental concern, the letter said, "because it may settle on water, soil, or vegetation and impair biological processes such as photosynthesis."
The current flap is about a proposed export facility in Boardman, Oregon. But there are proposals for other, similar ports around the region.
| Posted at 1:42 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (5)
Coal has many issues around it, for sure.
One thing to remember when you are smuggly plugging in your electric vehicle to recharge ... where is the electricity coming from? If it is from Boardman, you might as well be driving a Hummer with an old McCainPalin bumper sticker, instead of your new EV car.
Facebook found that out with their data center in Priney, when Greenpeace outed them, so they built their new European DC above the Arctic Circle.
Just sayin...
Posted by Harry | April 14, 2012 3:55 PM
As long as the human race is around and NOT an endangered species there will be more and more of this nonsense.
Just sayin'
Posted by K. W. | April 14, 2012 4:58 PM
Can anyone please explain to me, why we need to ship US coal to China when China is the biggest producer of coal in the world?
Just askin'
Posted by phil | April 15, 2012 8:49 AM
If [the power] is from Boardman, you might as well be driving a Hummer with an old McCainPalin bumper sticker, instead of your new EV car.
Not exactly. The virtue of electric cars is that they don't pollute the air in their immediate vicinity, diffusing pollutants into the overall environment rather than concentrating them in densely populated areas. This is a net benefit for urban residents (i.e., the majority of us). But no, electric vehicles don't by themselves address the larger problem, and certainly not if coal is used to generate the power. There's no environmentally benign substitute for simply driving less.
Posted by semi-cynic | April 15, 2012 11:41 AM
Once again, the consideration of the health of the people is so low on the list, it is frightening. Days I read about matters such as this, seems like a spiral that doesn't bode well for the health of all life on our planet.
Who makes these decisions?
People who have no empathy or conscience?
People who are not holistic in thinking?
People who only care about the money?
People who simply don't care?
Posted by clinamen | April 15, 2012 11:39 PM