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Does Coal Have a Place in the Green Energy Economy?. Elizabeth Ouzts Environment North Carolina. Environment North Carolina. Statewide, citizen-based advocacy group National federation: Environment America
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Does Coal Have a Place in the Green Energy Economy? Elizabeth Ouzts Environment North Carolina
Environment North Carolina • Statewide, citizen-based advocacy group • National federation: Environment America • Reports: Making Sense of the Coal Rush; When it Rains, It Pours; and Feeling the Heat
Our reliance on coal causes.. • Mountaintop destruction
Our reliance on coal causes… Air and water pollution
Our reliance on coal causes… • Global Warming
Avoiding Dangerous Global Warming • Cutting emissions by 35% by 2020 and 80% by mid-century
What about clean coal? • Not exactly clean • Cost • Timing • Scale • Transparency
“Coal Rush” is slowing down • 86 of 150 plants canceled • Bush Administration cancels research project
Consumers and job creation • More local spending, more jobs from other sources • Pollution auctions to assist low-income consumers
Does coal have a place in the green energy economy? • Need research on Carbon Capture & Storage • Co-fire existing plants with biomass • No reason to build new coal plants, unless: • Other ways of meeting energy demand are less cost-effective • Plants are capable of CCS
Green Energy Economy • Study: Renewable energy and energy efficiency will create twice as many jobs, cost half as much