The entire coal industry employs fewer people than Arby’s

[Correll]

Is that because of the economic factors, or because of political factors?

Reality factors for the most part - it's too expensive/ too dirty compared to natural gas and renewables.

EVERY time someone posts something about some new leap forward in alternative energy, when you dig into the numbers, you find government subsidies.


Some lib was just bragging on Spain.

Renewable energy in Spain - Wikipedia


"Initially Spain also positioned itself as a European leader in Solar power, by 2007-2010 the country was second only to Germany in installed capacity, however other countries (Italy in particular) have since leapfrogged Spanish development. By 2015 solar power in Spain though significant produced less than a third of that of wind power in 2015."



Looks good, huh?


Further down.


"Under previous subsidies the country expanded its renewable base rapidly and helped establish a domestic industry in both wind turbine and solar energy. However, support was drastically cut back following the global financial crisis and new installations stagnated between 2012 and 2015. The debts incurred during the boom period have led to tougher and retrospective revisions of contracts to providers of renewable energy reducing returns considerably."

 

[DrLove]

Yes, I heard about the massive waste involved with Spain's recent push for renewables.
Heard it cost billions with many lost jobs.

Sorry - but the new wave in jobs is going to be renewables.

Solar Employs More People In U.S. Electricity Generation Than Oil, Coal And Gas Combined

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Yes, I heard about the massive waste involved with Spain's recent push for renewables.
Heard it cost billions with many lost jobs.

Sorry - but the new wave in jobs is going to be renewables.

Solar Employs More People In U.S. Electricity Generation Than Oil, Coal And Gas Combined

It's true, solar energy has low productivity compared to oil, gas and coal.

 

[fncceo]

We don't even need coal anymore.

We don’t need steel anymore?

What about plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals?

Coal and coal by-products are used in the commercial manufacturing of all those things and more.

 

[beagle9]

We don't even need coal anymore.

We don’t need steel anymore?

What about plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals?

Coal and coal by-products are used in the commercial manufacturing of all those things and more.

. I think coal is used in the process of making cement in cement Mills, but don't quote me on that.

 

[theHawk]

To be fair, more people deal with Arby's on a retail basis than coal companies.

The average salary of a coal worker is $75,000 per annum

The average salary of a fast food worker is $16,500 per annum.

So....

If that is their salary, the coal miners are way over paid.

It's is a dangerous, hard job that provides vast benefit to society.


How are they overpaid?

Being a policeman or fireman are also very dangerous occupations, and they provide far, far more benefit to society than coal miners. In fact, just what benefit to society do you imagine coal miners provide? We don't even need coal anymore.

Coal provides 30% of the nation’s electricity.