According to this chart there are 20+ States that have a coal industry:
Including Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Indiana.
The coal industry as a whole has been worried about the downturn in new coal plants:
Others call the growing resistance to coal power worrying.
“It is a crisis for us because what we are not really focusing on is: Where is the electricity we need for the next 50 years going to come from?” said Gregory Boyce, chairman of Peabody Energy, at a “clean tech” conference recently in Palm Springs, Calif. “We view it as short-term and very unfortunate because we need to continue to build these new coal plants that are at least 15 to 20 percent more carbon-efficient than the plants they replace while we continue to work on technologies for the next generation of plants that are carbon-capture ready or that capture carbon and store it.”
With US energy demand growing about 1.2 percent a year, big utilities must get energy from somewhere.
~~~Some in the power industry also say gas-fired turbines are less reliable when used for “base load” power the turbines that spin day and night and not just for peak loads.
“There’s a serious crunch with respect to having enough generating capacity coming in the next 10 years,” says Rick Sergel, chief executive officer of North American Electric Reliability Corp., which serves the federal government as chief overseer of the US electric grid. “If coal doesn’t play its role, it’s going to be a major issue.”
~~~“If they don’t start building coal plants, it’s going to be an economic prosperity problem for the country,” says Richard Storm, CEO of Storm Technologies, an Albemarle, N.C., company that specializes in optimizing coal-fired power plants. “We need coal. Coal is a national treasure.”
and now they have even more reason to be worried: (h/t Gateway Pundit)
The transcript of the interview:
Let me sort of describe my overall policy.
What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there.
I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.
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.
That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.
The only thing I’ve 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.
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.
It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”
That was audio from an interview he gave to the San Francisco Chronicle. Funny thing is, the story written based off that interview did not include ANYTHING about the bankrupting of the coal industry.
Shocker!
And going along for the ride is the United Mine Workers Of America who say that “Barack Obama is on record supporting the development of clean coal technology in the United States.”
This coal industry union is fully behind Barack:
We got all of our local presidents to sign letters to the nearly 6,000 pensioners in Pennsylvania in support of Barack Obama. We are leafleting at every mine and non-mine organized unit and our members are taking part in phone banks and labor walks regularly….
But what will this unions response be to Barack’s bankruptcy plan for the coal industry? Will they still bow at the alter of the one?
How could they not know what was in store for their industry? He is on record as saying he wants to change the behavior of the American people by raising the cost of fuel and power prices:
“It’s not going to be painless” he says. Your damn right it’s not. Bankrupting an industry and raising the costs for everyday items needed by the people of this country is going to hurt quite a bit.
In the end it’s not going to be just the coal industry he bankrupts…it will be the country as a whole.
UPDATE
The problem is not technical, uh, and the problem is not mastery of the legislative intricacies of Washington. The problem is, uh, can you get the American people to say, “This is really important,” and force their representatives to do the right thing? That requires mobilizing a citizenry. That requires them understanding what is at stake. Uh, and climate change is a great example.
You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.
They — you — you can already see what the arguments will be during the general election. People will say, “Ah, Obama and Al Gore, these folks, they’re going to destroy the economy, this is going to cost us eight trillion dollars,” or whatever their number is. Um, if you can’t persuade the American people that yes, there is going to be some increase in electricity rates on the front end, but that over the long term, because of combinations of more efficient energy usage, changing lightbulbs and more efficient appliance, but also technology improving how we can produce clean energy, the economy would benefit.If we can’t make that argument persuasively enough, you — you, uh, can be Lyndon Johnson, you can be the master of Washington. You’re not going to get that done.
As if our economy needs an increase of energy costs right now. The rise of oil caused havoc with our economy earlier this year. What he is talking about will shred this economy and make the 70’s look like a golden age.
UPDATE
Good time to bring this up again?
See author page
The country’s days are numbered if this colossal fraud wins the election.
I cannot fathom the rationale of any voters in coal-mining country going with Obama.
Wouldn’t that be the opposite of “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”
You got this quick, was just reading at Gateway Pundit. BANKRUPT an industry for POLITICAL reasons, this man is either insane (which I doubt) or he’s a COMMUNIST. You can’t call this socialism, socialism is too tame a word for this guy!
He’s a neo-COM
Here’s the original tape:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2008/01/20/EDIAUHASH.DTL&o=0
Pay more in taxes, so government can pretend to control the weather.
I vote we shut off the electricity at Al Gore’s houses and Chicago first.
Could someone please download this tape before sfgate scrubs it…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2008/01/20/EDIAUHASH.DTL&o=0
Thanks.
Sure wish they’d get their stories straight…
I’m quite sure I remember Obama saying he’s okay with “clean coal” and “nuclear” on the campaign trail… evidently both with impossible caveats.
Per an obviously out of date (Oct 1st) PolitFact
Not only do Biden and Obama say whatever is politically expedient to stump for votes and manipulate the electorate, I’d say PolitFact has some backtracking to do as well.
The McCain campaign, and the RNC Trust, need to turn this into an ad and show it in every single coal producing state, and do it fast and furiously. As I write this, he’s getting ready to take the stage in PA, the perfect time and place, if he’s heard about it yet.
Agreed Joe, but must have the promises on record to support clean coal along with it. It not only reveals… one more time… that Obama says one thing on the campaign trail, but plans to do something completely different.
Not to mention it’s just another way to destroy jobs. Because if this guy thinks a coal operation… from mining to production… is less jobs than a solar or wind farm, his math is even fuzzier than I already know it to be.
It cannot be just ads, Joe. Because I think most people have stopped paying attention to ads. BUT… if he and Palin make sure to say this out on the stump and force the mass media to cover it, it will be effective. That is what needs to happen. McCain and Palin need to force the issue and get the message to the American people. The mass media will cover it in an effort to discredit them, but they will not be able to hide Obama’s own words. They will have to address that.
So hopefully the campaign knows all about this and will talk about it in the days leading up to the election.
Good point, Mata.
That has been the entire problem with calling out Obama this entire campaign. He is on record as saying two different (sometimes more) things on each topic. So when the GOP rightfully calls him out on his socialism and communism, the mass media simply points to a contradictory statement Obama or Biden have stated on the issue and call what the GOP points out as “attacks”. Thus, Obama gets away with his lies and hypocrisy.
This has been frustrating as all hell for months now.
As someone said above, if this fraud wins… *ugh*.
“You can’t call this socialism, socialism is too tame a word for this guy” (Jainphx)
You are right, Jainphx.
“Socialism is the same as Communism, only better English.” George Bernard Shaw
President Vaclav Klaus of Czech Republic, tells it like it is:
CLIMATE CHANGE RELIGION
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1417423266/bctid1579835622
Anyone going to forward this over to new stations in PA, OH or IL? I forwarded it to the Pittsburgh Gazette. Probably best to get this out to the local news media outlets if you want to make a difference!! Please!
Biden may back clean coal, but he is helpless as VP to do anything. As far as Obama’s support of coal, it obviously changes. Coal could still be shipped out of the country or converted to gasoline. The total pollution number won’t change, it will just be redirected.
Oupst! Another moon bat!
Maybe we should be calling this site: Flopping Moonbats
Let’s not all forget about this statement from Barry either, which ties right into his desire to force Americans to change their ways by jacking up our energy costs:
“We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,” Obama said. “That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen,” he added.” — Barack Obama
“Hope” and “Change” we can believe in. Barry spreading the misery of the world around the United States of America.
And this man is 2 days away from the Presidency. Simply un-fuhkeen-real. What in the world is wrong with America that this utter fuhkeen fraud can even be this viable of a candidate.
Michael in MI, you should explain to the moonbats the situation in MI. due to Democrapic leadership. I’m surprised (since I’m originally from Detroit) there are good people like you left in Mi.
jainphx – There are actually quite a few of us here. I have seen quite a few McCain-Palin signs in my neighborhood here in Garden City (suburb about 20 minutes West of Detroit) and about an even mix of McCain and Obama signs in the very liberal Dearborn Heights area. There is a large group of us at my old job (Ford) and my new workplace who all favor McCain-Palin. I’m guessing there are just not enough of us to carry the State.
I was actually hopeful in 2004 that we may have a chance to make the State Red and get rid of Granholm, but at the last month or so, she ran her campaign against Bush, blaming all the State’s woes on him. Apparently it worked, even when we had a good businessman like DeVos as an alternative to Granholm’s ‘tax the State into prosperity’ nonsense ideology.
All the campaign ads I have seen here in Michigan the last few weeks are taking the same tactic: blame Bush, change from Bush, etc.
I just can’t get over how that is so effective. Especially when the past 7+ years of President Bush policies has not been bad when looked at objectively. Sure there are some problems, but I cannot fathom how anyone can think that the ‘change’ we need for the country is to go from some flawed policies to… socialism/Marxism/communism.
It just baffles me how people can seem to be that utterly stupid.
I’m hoping that the polls are completely jacked as they seem to be and that the American people are not as stupid as the mass media makes them seem to be and that Obama will go down in flames on Tuesday, as it should be. I’m hoping the silent majority, despite Obama’s lies and the propaganda and lies of the mass media, see Obama as the far, far leftist/communist/Marxist/socialist that he is and will vote en masse to soundly defeat him.
I don’t know how Michigan will go. I just assume it will go Obama again because of the large Black and Arab population in Detroit, which usually carries the State, no matter what happens elsewhere. Plus people here seem to blame the loss of jobs on Bush all the time.
So I’m not hopeful much about Michigan, but am pretty optimistic about the overall election.
At this point though, it’s like waiting for Christmas morning. I just want the election here and over already so I can see if I am right about all this.
“The McCain campaign, and the RNC Trust, need to turn this into an ad and show it in every single coal producing state, and do it fast and furiously. As I write this, he’s getting ready to take the stage in PA, the perfect time and place, if he’s heard about it yet.” (Joe)
Don’t worry, Sarah took care of that.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOCUS ON FLORIDA AND OHIO IN FINAL STRETCH BEFORE ELECTION
For Republican vice presidential candidate also hit Obama for remarks he reportedly made earlier this year to the San Francisco Chronicle about bankrupting the coal industry.
“Here again in the 11th hour, an audio tape surfaced that you, you got to hear Barack Obama talking about bankrupting the coal industry, Palin said to a crowd of supporters in Marietta, Ohio.
“He said that, sure, if the industry coal filed power plants, then they can go ahead and try, he says, but they can do it only in a way that will bankrupt the coal industry, and he’s comfortable letting that happen. And you got to listen to the tape,” she said.
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/02/vice-presidential-candidates-make-closing-arguments-key-swing-states/
Think John McCain’s supports coal? Think again:
“I would not disagree that with you that in a perfect world we would like to transition away from coal entirely.”
John McCain, at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Sept. 21, 2000.
@minervoice:
Got a source for that quote?
Transcript of hearing, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Hearing On Reductions In Greenhouse Gases, 9/21/00
@minervoice:
Link it for me.
Keep in mind also that we don’t deal in half quotes, misquotes, or out of context BS here.
Eight years later:
On coal, McCain has pledged $2 billion per year to subsidize the research and development of clean coal. He says that we will eventually have to use coal plants that emit less greenhouse gases, but that should not ban the construction and use of traditional coal plants until clean coal technology is viable.
http://votegopher.com/issue.php?issue=3&cam=3&pid=3
Miner, tell me, will he bankrupt the idustry ASAP like obama, or will he gradually phase out coal over time so as not to screw over the economy? Nice try, now go elsewhere obamabot.
@Aye Chihuahua:
Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly. I’m wise to you.
@Missy:
You’re right Missy.
🙂
How badly does miner want the play the game?
That is the question.
Now the Hussein talking heads are saying he didn’t say what he said on the tape. People are missing his statement about how this will drive up ‘everyone’s’ power bills. The shortage I see in the next couple of years will be rope strong enough to snap a democrats head off, like it did Saddam Hussein, who was less dangerous than Hussein O.
@Aye Chihuahua:
I had googled:
“I would not disagree that with you that in a perfect world we would like to transition away from coal entirely.”
It turned up onc hit on the vast worldwide network. It came from the United Miner’s Workers of America, AFLCIO, CIC. Unsourced, no context, but, you knew that. I’m sure our new friend “minervoice” is busy sifting through Senate records right now, tedious as that is, to provide the context of that statement so that we better understand John McCain’s stance on coal.
Everyone grab hold of your wallets if Obama gets into the White House. He will bankrupt us all with his idea of “fairness” and what he thinks is good for the country.
I still can not believe this fraud is so close in the polls. He will says things out of both sides of his face according to who is talking to.
As I said before, do not believe in any if the polls anyway.
@Missy:
I found it there too.
I also found it, wait for it, on The One’s site.
However, on the BO site, the entire quote is there. It’s not nearly so damaging as miner would like for us to believe.
I’m waiting to see if miner comes back the link or the entire quote.
Probably neither, but we’ll see.
Ooh, ooh, ooh. Do you think he was dispached from the One’s site?
Shepherd Smith had the story tonight, thought it was just a blog item that would make it’s way around alowly and toooooo late. Hope MSM reports it. >eyes roll<
stix1972,
Obama doesn’t really believe in “spreading the wealth around is good for everyone”. If he did he would have shared some of that campaign wealth he has collected with McCain and the other presidential candidates.
🙂
Miner appears to be another Obama campaign blog fly-byer. You ever notice they frequently take names that makes it sound like they are someone connected to the issue? I’m sure miner is another inner city marketing hire and is not employed in the coal industry?
Just like RAP is certainly no patriot.
Just another political issue that shows us Obama’s world is not based in reality. Just wait if he gets elected and his inner city base starts seeing their electric bills double or triple. All so he can reward Gore’s carbon credit business with more of their money. Then who’s fault would it be? Why BIG COAL of course.
@MnGramma:
Obama doesn’t share with his aunt, his brother, that school he promised to aid or Harry Reid, do you wonder how sharing his mega, questionable campaign dollars with John McCain would ever make a blip on his radar screen?
Welcome.
You are right Missy, and John McCain probably wouldn’t want his questionable money anyway.
His grandmother Sarah or half brother George in Kenya, his aunt in Boston, all poor, and still they care about him. His aunt even sent campaign donations, so she must care about him! It’s kind of heartbreaking.
A man that doesn’t care about his own family members, certainly can’t care about millions of strangers out here in crowd.
Thanks.
“Under my plan… electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.”
So, on the one hand, Obama promises a “tax cut” to people who don’t pay income taxes and on the other hand, the cost of electricity will skyrocket.
Does that sound like a good deal?
Maybe if you light your home by candles and heat it with firewood.
This revelation is EXACTLY the kind of thing we should have been talking about weeks, if not months, ago.
I am astonished that no one on our side has brought this up until the very last minute. Like the L.A. Times tape of Obama praising the jew hater Khalidi I cannot understand why this stuff wasn’t put to good use earlier.
It takes weeks to get information like this spread around to the people who need to hear it.
No Mike, we won’t be allowed to burn firewood. Can’t kill a tree ya know! Will have to light AND heat our homes with candles!!
It is going to be a really cold winter here too.
Palin pranked on Radio. It’s really funny. She could be our President!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eGRHUht6…
@Aye Chihuahua:
Talking points, Alan Colmes had them tonight. The Obama camp knew this would come out and they were ready with the spin, lame as it is, with only hours left, they got lucky. Hopefully, the truth moves faster than their spin.
Bob, those two assholes are from Montreal. I know them, I live there. They are stupid idiot leftists and they do this to every important person in the World that they hate. I think that Sarah did just fine, she was very friendly and polite. I would like some conservatives to do the same trick to Obama. Like pretending it his Ahmajenidad who is phoning him. Good Lord the stupidities that Obama would say would be hilarious, he would probably invite him for lunch. And just to think he could be President of the United States is very scary.
What Obama is really saying is that if you’re going to build a coal power plant it will be built using clean technology or you will get fined so badly your new coal burning plant will go bankrupt.
Whats wrong with having clean burning coal?
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/not_coming_clean_on_coal.html
Lets see now….my taxes will be raised…. So over half my income will be gone.
Oh well, I still have half.
Wait! He also wants to cause my energy bills to sky rocket!
Oh well, I still have a few dollars left.
Hey Wait! I don’t have heat and A/C anymore! Can’t afford it.
My health is failing because I need A/C!
Oh well, I can get on Obama’s list to get health care for my heart….I only need to wait …..oh…3 months …to get my first appointment. (I hope I am not to old to “save”! If I am I won’t qualify for care…after all the young need their chance first, It just costs too much to treat the old! *This actually happend to my father in law in England*)
Hey Wait! I can’t afford ANYTHING now because everything costs so much that is connected to coal!
Oh well, at least gasoline price is down now.
Hey Wait! He won’t drill and we have to pay the again sky rocketing prices to the middle east or communistic countries. I can’t drive now, I can’t afford it, and necessities I used to buy cost way to much now!
Oh well I don’t have to worry about driving…I don’t have a job anymore!
I am planting seed in the back yard so I can eat! So I don’t have any complaints….besides I now get a “big fat check” from the state now! Some rich guy so “unselfishly” and “patriotically” gave it to me.
How could you not love THE ONE! Look how much HE gave US! He is so wonderful to share
everyone’sHIS BP&Js.You know it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand how this man is going to destroy this country. What the heck is the matter with 50% of this country!
I feel like we are living in western Europe in the 1930s. I used to wonder how they could be so blind to not see through Hitler and the other dictators.
NEVER did I think that Americans could give up their very hard won freedoms and independence and pride. If Obama wins, we are seeing the decline of freedom world wide. As McCain says…we must fight!
PRAY folks. JUST PRAY!
@RCLC: Nice I see the talking points came out fast on this one. They knew that this would come out eventually.
Obama’s social experiment … or, should I say Socialist experiment, will bring America to it’s knees! America has more coal than any other country in the world. Coal is one of America’s greatest natural resources, and our most abundant source of fuel. Our economy and our National Security is extremely intertwined with coal. We should be supporting and promoting clean coal. The thought that Obama would possibly bankrupt our coal industry is scary. Obama’s 20 year history of embracing radical ideas, radical people and radical change to our country allows this candidate with virtually no experience, to gamble with our constitution, our economy, our national security, and our future. Keep America safe and prosperous, … Elect McCain/Palin on November 4th !!!
The quote is from SF Chronical January interview and is about a Cap and Trade with regard to CHINA!
Jesus people, do you really think the other 50% of the country is flaming crazy?
Moonbat Doug is back!
@doug:
Sorry.
The article in question has nothing to do with China.
Care to try again?
@Craig:
Same MoonBat species. Different Doug.
Canceled…My anger overruled my good sense.