Obama policies hammered following coal-mine closings, layoffs

[Vast LWC]

ROFL. Yep, I'm quite sure that 1200 Coal mining jobs are going to tip the balance.

Especially since a majority of them are in West Virginia, where no-one will ever vote for a black man.

The ones in Pennsylvania will be more than covered by factory jobs in the resurgent manufacturing sector, and the districts where Coal Mining happens in Virginia wouldn't go Obama anyway.

No skin off Obama's back, really.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

The so-called "problems" are only a problem for environmental wackos who would prefer it if humans didn't exist. "Mountain top removal" is really "hill to removal."

So you're ok destroying people's communities, water and some very lovely mountains all in the name of greed? They don't HAVE to blow the mountains to smithereens to get the coal. They do that because of corporate greed. I will NEVER forgive shrub for making this process legal.

The main reason coal mines are closing is that many electric plants are converting to cleaner, cheaper natural gas - and that electrical use is DOWN. But don't let the truth get in the way of your propagandizing.

 

[Claudette]

1,200 jobs.

It's laughable that there is a thread about Siemens laying off 400 with the blame placed on Republicans for allowing a wind generation tax credit to expire.

Clean coal technology exists and it's proven. Is it expensive? Hell yes, but it works.

So rather than promote it and finance it, Obama chooses to bury the coal industry. Same for oil and gas. Bury it and be done with it to make way for alternatives/renewables.

WHO is making the decision to close down coal mines? There is no edict from the government. It is a market driven corporate decision by Alpha Natural Resources.

Alpha Natural Resources agrees with you... Clean coal technology exists and it's proven. Is it expensive?

The President called for investing in clean coal technology. He didn't say it was FREE.

No one will care who gave the orders. Rightly or wrongly Barry will get the blame just as any POTUS would have.

Its more unemployed,

Its the economy stupid.

 

[Bfgrn]

1,200 jobs.

It's laughable that there is a thread about Siemens laying off 400 with the blame placed on Republicans for allowing a wind generation tax credit to expire.

Clean coal technology exists and it's proven. Is it expensive? Hell yes, but it works.

So rather than promote it and finance it, Obama chooses to bury the coal industry. Same for oil and gas. Bury it and be done with it to make way for alternatives/renewables.

WHO is making the decision to close down coal mines? There is no edict from the government. It is a market driven corporate decision by Alpha Natural Resources.

Alpha Natural Resources agrees with you... Clean coal technology exists and it's proven. Is it expensive?

The President called for investing in clean coal technology. He didn't say it was FREE.

No one will care who gave the orders. Rightly or wrongly Barry will get the blame just as any POTUS would have.

Its more unemployed,

Its the economy stupid.

Then wrongly by the stupid people who will blame Obama and ignore the market forces behind the closing.

 

[Mr. H.]

Tell me bripat, how are you and today's anti-environment conservative's policies and view of environmental protection any different than the former communist Soviet Union?

Only in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a linkage identified between the increasingly poor state of human health and the destruction of ecosystems in Russia. When that linkage was established, a new word was coined to sum up the environmental record of the Soviet era--"ecocide."

Environmental issues in Russia

There are numerous environmental issues in Russia. Many of the issues have been attributed to policies during the Soviet Union, a time when officials felt that pollution control was an unnecessary hindrance to economic development and industrialization. As a result, 40% of Russia's territory began demonstrating symptoms of significant ecological stress by the 1990s, largely due to a diverse number of environmental issues, including deforestation, energy irresponsibility, pollution, and nuclear waste.

I contend that there is a workable solution with coal- but this administration chooses not to seek one.

And this conservative is not anti-environment or anti-regulation. However, in too many instances agencies such as the EPA over step their bounds by enacting onerous, redundant, and counter-productive policies that add little to no benefit to the environment while burdening business to the point of collapse. This is not an endorsement of coal regulations as they stand today, but an endorsement of "workable solutions".

It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.
Albert Camus

Hyperbole and right wing propaganda. Is 'this conservative' aware that Obama succeeded the worst environmental administration in history? Bush/Cheney and polluters did their best to dismantle and disable the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and castrate the EPA.

Policies like these deserve words like onerous.

We Need Clean Water:
No More Dumping Mining Waste Into Our Waters!

Ever since President George W. Bush created a massive loophole in the Clean Water Act in 2002, mining companies have been able to dump their toxic and dangerous mining waste directly into the waters we all rely on.

In 1972, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Clean Water Act to end the use of lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands as waste dumps. Before that, America's waters and people had been suffering from pollution, and many lakes and rivers became unfit for drinking, swimming and fishing.

But in 2002, America's waters and people took a hard hit. By coming up with a new definition for "fill material," the Bush administration opened the floodgates for coal mines in Appalachia to destroy streams with the waste created by blowing the tops off of mountains. In 2004, the Bush administration expanded that loophole to allow even more dangerous dumping of toxic mine "tailings"—the chemically processed wastewater slurry from extracting gold and other metals.

For nearly a decade now, we've watched as wealthy mining corporations turn some of America's most pristine lakes and streams into industrial waste dumps.

In Alaska, a new gold mine is pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons per day of toxic wastewater slurry into Lower Slate Lake, killing its fish and aquatic life. And this is just the beginning. High gold and metal prices have triggered a mining boom that, without stronger regulation, threatens countless lakes, streams and wetlands in Alaska and throughout the country.

The Obama administration must close this loophole, now, and restore protections for our waters. Clean, safe, healthy water for all Americans must take priority over corporate interests. Please write to the Obama administration (Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General and Chief of Engineers LTG Robert L. Van Antwerp, and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley) and tell them to close this loophole and stop the dumping of mining waste into our waters!

Even though you post a link, it would be helpful if you italicised the pasted cuts.

I spend tens of thousands of $'s year in and year out complying with local, state, and federal environmental guidlines. At least I walk the walk, so to speak.

My contribution to this thread has been in asserting that cleanly burning coal is attainable and should be pursued, and that maybe Obama should be investing his- I mean our- money in such ventures rather than coddlling his supporters by lining their pockets with cash for failed ventures.

 

[Bfgrn]

I contend that there is a workable solution with coal- but this administration chooses not to seek one.

And this conservative is not anti-environment or anti-regulation. However, in too many instances agencies such as the EPA over step their bounds by enacting onerous, redundant, and counter-productive policies that add little to no benefit to the environment while burdening business to the point of collapse. This is not an endorsement of coal regulations as they stand today, but an endorsement of "workable solutions".

It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.
Albert Camus

Hyperbole and right wing propaganda. Is 'this conservative' aware that Obama succeeded the worst environmental administration in history? Bush/Cheney and polluters did their best to dismantle and disable the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and castrate the EPA.

Policies like these deserve words like onerous.

We Need Clean Water:
No More Dumping Mining Waste Into Our Waters!

Ever since President George W. Bush created a massive loophole in the Clean Water Act in 2002, mining companies have been able to dump their toxic and dangerous mining waste directly into the waters we all rely on.

In 1972, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Clean Water Act to end the use of lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands as waste dumps. Before that, America's waters and people had been suffering from pollution, and many lakes and rivers became unfit for drinking, swimming and fishing.

But in 2002, America's waters and people took a hard hit. By coming up with a new definition for "fill material," the Bush administration opened the floodgates for coal mines in Appalachia to destroy streams with the waste created by blowing the tops off of mountains. In 2004, the Bush administration expanded that loophole to allow even more dangerous dumping of toxic mine "tailings"—the chemically processed wastewater slurry from extracting gold and other metals.

For nearly a decade now, we've watched as wealthy mining corporations turn some of America's most pristine lakes and streams into industrial waste dumps.

In Alaska, a new gold mine is pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons per day of toxic wastewater slurry into Lower Slate Lake, killing its fish and aquatic life. And this is just the beginning. High gold and metal prices have triggered a mining boom that, without stronger regulation, threatens countless lakes, streams and wetlands in Alaska and throughout the country.

The Obama administration must close this loophole, now, and restore protections for our waters. Clean, safe, healthy water for all Americans must take priority over corporate interests. Please write to the Obama administration (Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General and Chief of Engineers LTG Robert L. Van Antwerp, and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley) and tell them to close this loophole and stop the dumping of mining waste into our waters!

Even though you post a link, it would be helpful if you italicised the pasted cuts.

I spend tens of thousands of $'s year in and year out complying with local, state, and federal environmental guidlines. At least I walk the walk, so to speak.

My contribution to this thread has been in asserting that cleanly burning coal is attainable and should be pursued, and that maybe Obama should be investing his- I mean our- money in such ventures rather than coddlling his supporters by lining their pockets with cash for failed ventures.

They HAVE...

DOE selects eight oxy-combustion projects - Carbon Capture Journal

Secretary Chu Announces $14 Million for Six New Projects to Advance IGCC Technology | Department of Energy

Energy Department Announces Awards to Projects Advancing Innovative Clean Coal Technology | Department of Energy

DOE - Fossil Energy Techline: Energy Department Announces Major Milestones for Decatur, Ill. Clean Coal Project

DOE - Fossil Energy Techline: Prestigious "Coal-Fired Project of the Year" Award Goes to Plant Demonstrating Innovative DOE-Funded Technology

DOE - Fossil Energy Techline: President Requests $650.8 Million for Fossil Energy Programs

DOE - Fossil Energy: Clean Coal Technologies

DOE - Fossil Energy: DOE's Clean Coal Technology Program

[url=http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/cctc/]NETL: Major Demonstrations[/URL]

DOE - Fossil Energy: DOE's FutureGen 2.0 Initiative

DOE - Fossil Energy: Techlines (News)

Plus:

Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

As the centerpiece of the President's commitment to transparency and accountability, this site will feature projections for how, when, and where the Office of Fossil Energy funds will be spent.

The Office of Fossil Energy has received $3.4 billion from the Recovery Act. Initiatives will focus on research, development and deployment of technologies to use coal more cleanly and efficiently. Investments will go toward finding and testing new ways to produce energy from coal - such as gasification - and improving techniques to clean or capture and store the emissions from coal-fired power plants. Funds include:

• $1.0 billion for fossil energy R&D programs;
  (Learn more about FutureGen 2.0)

• $800 million for additional amounts for the Clean Coal Power Initiative Round III Funding Opportunity Announcement;
  (Learn more about CCPI Round III Projects)

• $1.52 billion for a competitive solicitation for a range of industrial carbon capture and energy efficiency improvement projects, including a small allocation for innovative concepts for beneficial reuse of carbon dioxide (CO2);
  (Learn more about Industrial CCS projects)
  (Learn more about Innovative Concepts for Beneficial Reuse of CO2 projects)

• $50 million for a competitive solicitation for site characterization activities in geologic formations (in the context of CO2 sequestration in geologic formations);
  (Learn more about CCS Site Characterization projects)

• $20 million for geologic CO2 sequestration training and research grants; and
  (Learn more about Regional Sequestration Training projects)
  (Learn more about Geologic Sequestration Training and Research projects)

• $10 million for program direction funding.

DOE - Fossil Energy: Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

 

[Mr. H.]

It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.
Albert Camus

Hyperbole and right wing propaganda. Is 'this conservative' aware that Obama succeeded the worst environmental administration in history? Bush/Cheney and polluters did their best to dismantle and disable the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and castrate the EPA.

Policies like these deserve words like onerous.

We Need Clean Water:
No More Dumping Mining Waste Into Our Waters!

Ever since President George W. Bush created a massive loophole in the Clean Water Act in 2002, mining companies have been able to dump their toxic and dangerous mining waste directly into the waters we all rely on.

In 1972, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Clean Water Act to end the use of lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands as waste dumps. Before that, America's waters and people had been suffering from pollution, and many lakes and rivers became unfit for drinking, swimming and fishing.

But in 2002, America's waters and people took a hard hit. By coming up with a new definition for "fill material," the Bush administration opened the floodgates for coal mines in Appalachia to destroy streams with the waste created by blowing the tops off of mountains. In 2004, the Bush administration expanded that loophole to allow even more dangerous dumping of toxic mine "tailings"—the chemically processed wastewater slurry from extracting gold and other metals.

For nearly a decade now, we've watched as wealthy mining corporations turn some of America's most pristine lakes and streams into industrial waste dumps.

In Alaska, a new gold mine is pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons per day of toxic wastewater slurry into Lower Slate Lake, killing its fish and aquatic life. And this is just the beginning. High gold and metal prices have triggered a mining boom that, without stronger regulation, threatens countless lakes, streams and wetlands in Alaska and throughout the country.

The Obama administration must close this loophole, now, and restore protections for our waters. Clean, safe, healthy water for all Americans must take priority over corporate interests. Please write to the Obama administration (Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General and Chief of Engineers LTG Robert L. Van Antwerp, and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley) and tell them to close this loophole and stop the dumping of mining waste into our waters!

Even though you post a link, it would be helpful if you italicised the pasted cuts.

I spend tens of thousands of $'s year in and year out complying with local, state, and federal environmental guidlines. At least I walk the walk, so to speak.

My contribution to this thread has been in asserting that cleanly burning coal is attainable and should be pursued, and that maybe Obama should be investing his- I mean our- money in such ventures rather than coddlling his supporters by lining their pockets with cash for failed ventures.

They HAVE...

DOE selects eight oxy-combustion projects - Carbon Capture Journal

Secretary Chu Announces $14 Million for Six New Projects to Advance IGCC Technology | Department of Energy

Energy Department Announces Awards to Projects Advancing Innovative Clean Coal Technology | Department of Energy

DOE - Fossil Energy Techline: Energy Department Announces Major Milestones for Decatur, Ill. Clean Coal Project

DOE - Fossil Energy Techline: Prestigious "Coal-Fired Project of the Year" Award Goes to Plant Demonstrating Innovative DOE-Funded Technology

DOE - Fossil Energy Techline: President Requests $650.8 Million for Fossil Energy Programs

DOE - Fossil Energy: Clean Coal Technologies

DOE - Fossil Energy: DOE's Clean Coal Technology Program

[url=http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/cctc/]NETL: Major Demonstrations[/URL]

DOE - Fossil Energy: DOE's FutureGen 2.0 Initiative

DOE - Fossil Energy: Techlines (News)

Plus:

Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

As the centerpiece of the President's commitment to transparency and accountability, this site will feature projections for how, when, and where the Office of Fossil Energy funds will be spent.

The Office of Fossil Energy has received $3.4 billion from the Recovery Act. Initiatives will focus on research, development and deployment of technologies to use coal more cleanly and efficiently. Investments will go toward finding and testing new ways to produce energy from coal - such as gasification - and improving techniques to clean or capture and store the emissions from coal-fired power plants. Funds include:

• $1.0 billion for fossil energy R&D programs;
  (Learn more about FutureGen 2.0)

• $800 million for additional amounts for the Clean Coal Power Initiative Round III Funding Opportunity Announcement;
  (Learn more about CCPI Round III Projects)

• $1.52 billion for a competitive solicitation for a range of industrial carbon capture and energy efficiency improvement projects, including a small allocation for innovative concepts for beneficial reuse of carbon dioxide (CO2);
  (Learn more about Industrial CCS projects)
  (Learn more about Innovative Concepts for Beneficial Reuse of CO2 projects)

• $50 million for a competitive solicitation for site characterization activities in geologic formations (in the context of CO2 sequestration in geologic formations);
  (Learn more about CCS Site Characterization projects)

• $20 million for geologic CO2 sequestration training and research grants; and
  (Learn more about Regional Sequestration Training projects)
  (Learn more about Geologic Sequestration Training and Research projects)

• $10 million for program direction funding.

DOE - Fossil Energy: Implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Thanks for these links. I hope you don't ask me to read each one twice.

So... despite all this, you still contend that coal is dead?

I don't.

 

[Lakhota]

Fracking and cheap natural gas are hurting coal more than EPA regulations. The frackers need stricter EPA oversight and regulations.

 

[bripat9643]

Even though you post a link, it would be helpful if you italicised the pasted cuts.

I spend tens of thousands of $'s year in and year out complying with local, state, and federal environmental guidlines. At least I walk the walk, so to speak.

My contribution to this thread has been in asserting that cleanly burning coal is attainable and should be pursued, and that maybe Obama should be investing his- I mean our- money in such ventures rather than coddlling his supporters by lining their pockets with cash for failed ventures.

They HAVE...

The term "clean coal" is pure propaganda. If it means coal that doesn't produce CO2, a system that produces power economically is an impossibility. Most of the power produced is used up by the process that eliminates the CO2. Any other meaning is a subterfuge. Coal fired power plants are already clean enough to address any reasonable environmental or human health concerns.

The true agenda of wackos like you is to eliminate coal fired power plants, and therefore to eliminate cheap electric power for the masses. Any talk about "clean coal" is a side show and a diversion.

 

[Mr. H.]

Fracking and cheap natural gas are hurting coal more than EPA regulations. The frackers need stricter EPA oversight and regulations.

Proof positive that you have no fucking clue.

Go hump a My Little Pony.

 

[bripat9643]

Fracking and cheap natural gas are hurting coal more than EPA regulations. The frackers need stricter EPA oversight and regulations.

Meaning you'd like to kill that industry as well. The last thing this country needs is stricter EPA oversight over anything.

 

[bripat9643]

Thanks for these links. I hope you don't ask me to read each one twice.

So... despite all this, you still contend that coal is dead?

I don't.

The day coal is actually dead will be the day this country descends into barbarism.

 

[Mr. H.]

Lakhota humps the pony.

 

[Lakhota]

Fracking and cheap natural gas are hurting coal more than EPA regulations. The frackers need stricter EPA oversight and regulations.

Meaning you'd like to kill that industry as well. The last thing this country needs is stricter EPA oversight over anything.

No, idiot, I just don't want to see everyone's faucets burning like a cigarette lighter and major underground water supplies contaminated. Do you?

BTW, what the hell is "clean coal"...?

 

[Mr. H.]

Fracking and cheap natural gas are hurting coal more than EPA regulations. The frackers need stricter EPA oversight and regulations.

Meaning you'd like to kill that industry as well. The last thing this country needs is stricter EPA oversight over anything.

No, idiot, I just don't want to see everyone's faucets burning like a cigarette lighter and major underground water supplies contaminated. Do you?

BTW, what the hell is "clean coal"...?

Hump the pony, bitch.

 

[Mr. H.]

Fracking and cheap natural gas are hurting coal more than EPA regulations. The frackers need stricter EPA oversight and regulations.

Meaning you'd like to kill that industry as well. The last thing this country needs is stricter EPA oversight over anything.

No, idiot, I just don't want to see everyone's faucets burning like a cigarette lighter and major underground water supplies contaminated. Do you?

BTW, what the hell is "clean coal"...?

Your blatant moronic ignorance thrills me.

 

[francoHFW]

Fracking has never been safer. Or bigger. Pubs suq period, dupes.

 

[Mr. H.]

Coal- it's what's for supper.

Up yer ass.

There's a solution... clean coal. You hamster fuckers.

 

[Mr. H.]

Fracking has never been safer. Or bigger. Pubs suq period, dupes.

That reminds me of an ancient Chinese proverb.

Go chew cock.

 

[Lakhota]