Obama-backed $2.2B green energy 'boondoggle' leaves taxpayers on the hook

[Missouri_Mike]

Tell that to astronauts and their vehicles that use solar energy.

The ones that got to space on top of a giant cylinder filled with thousands of gallons of rocket fuel?

 

[Moonglow]

The ones that got to space on top of a giant cylinder filled with thousands of gallons of rocket fuel?

Yes, a damn good reason to use all forms of energy at our disposal. Why limit ourselves?

 

[postman]

OP: Obama-backed $2.2B green energy 'boondoggle' leaves taxpayers on the hook

I'm wondering what you feel about Trumps $50 B Iran boondoggle to keep us hooked on oil.

 

[Marener]

Overview




Clean coal technology refers to a set of systems designed to reduce environmental damage from coal-fired power generation, primarily targeting CO2 emissions through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and limiting pollutants like sulfur dioxide (\(SO_{2}\)) and nitrogen oxides (\(NO_{x}\)). Key methods include gasification, supercritical/ultra-supercritical combustion, and fluidized-bed combustion, which enhance efficiency and capture waste products. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Key Clean Coal Technologies:

• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):Captures \(CO_{2}\) emissions from power plants, storing them underground to prevent atmospheric release.
  • Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC): Turns coal into gas, removing impurities before combustion to improve efficiency.
  • Supercritical & Ultra-supercritical Plants: Operate at higher pressures/temperatures than traditional plants, increasing efficiency to roughly 45% (vs. ~35% standard), allowing more electricity from less coal.
  • Fluidized-bed Combustion (FBC): Burns pulverized coal mixed with limestone to capture sulfur emissions during the process rather than using external scrubbers.
  • Flue-gas Scrubbers: Remove \(SO_{2}\) from exhaust gases. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Pros & Cons:

• Pros: Reduces sulfur dioxide by 98%, particulates by 99.8%, and nitrogen oxides by 83% according to the Department of Energy (DOE). It offers a way to continue using coal in a lower-carbon manner.
• Cons: High initial investment (up to $2 billion per facility). These systems can be complex, and reducing emissions is energy-intensive, requiring more coal to be burned. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

"Clean coal" generally refers to making coal more environmentally friendly, but some argue it is expensive to scale and does not eliminate mining's environmental footprint. [1, 2]

• 'Clean Coal' Technologies, Carbon Capture & Sequestration
  As many coal-fired power stations approach retirement, their replacement gives much scope for 'cleaner' electricity. Alongside nuc...
  
  World Nuclear Association
  
  
  
• Clean Coal Technology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
  Fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) system is a variation of PCC technology, in which coal is burned with air circulating through a bed...
  
  
  ScienceDirect.com
  
  
  
• What is clean coal technology? - Science | HowStuffWorks
  Carbon capture and storage — perhaps the most promising clean coal technology — catches and sequesters carbon dioxide (CO2) emissi...
  
  
  HowStuffWorks
  

You know how much sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is produced in solar and wind?

Zero.

You also left out pollution from mining activities.

And you also forgot to mention how it’s way more expensive.

But again, MAGA decided to shove it down our throats anyway for political reasons.

 

[j-mac]

You know how much sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is produced in solar and wind?

Zero.

You also left out pollution from mining activities.

And you also forgot to mention how it’s way more expensive.

But again, MAGA decided to shove it down our throats anyway for political reasons.

Energy runs the world economy…tell us how solar and wind could even attempt to replace current demand. What would that look like?

 

[postman]

The ones that got to space on top of a giant cylinder filled with thousands of gallons of rocket fuel?

Good point. There is no alternative to the fuel needed to get them into space. But you leave out, that without using alternative renewable energy (solar) their mission is limited to a couple of weeks.

 

[jknowgood]

You missed the point about coal being toxic, expensive and dumb.

Yet MAGA is obsessed with it and forces it down our throats anyway.

For political reasons.

Coal is one of the cheapest fuels used for energy.

 

[postman]

You know how much sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is produced in solar and wind?

Zero.

You also left out pollution from mining activities.

And you also forgot to mention how it’s way more expensive.

But again, MAGA decided to shove it down our throats anyway for political reasons.

More expensive in initial acquisition. But you have to look at lifecycle cost. In which solar is just a fraction of coal.

 

[ColonelAngus]

Energy runs the world economy…tell us how solar and wind could even attempt to replace current demand. What would that look like?

You will get NOTHING.

 

[postman]

Coal is one of the cheapest fuels used for energy.

It is also one of the dirtiest fuels.

 

[Hafar1014]

Tell that to astronauts and their vehicles that use solar energy.

The sun always shines in space stupid duh

 

[ColonelAngus]

Coal is one of the cheapest fuels used for energy.

Coal is bad. Appalachian.

Learn to code.

We are going to power AI data centers on hopes and dreams!!

 

[Hafar1014]

We should be utilizing every form of energy we can.

Even the expensive unreliable ones?

 

[Moonglow]

The sun always shines in space stupid duh
View attachment 1251663

Not everywhere, but there is light in space that is invisible to us because we lack the ability to see it.
The light we see—the rainbow of colors from red to violet—is only a tiny fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, representing less than \(0.0035\%\) of the total range. The rest of the spectrum consists of "invisible light" that is constantly passing through space and all around us, undetectable to human eyes. [1, 2, 3]

 

[Moonglow]

Even the expensive unreliable ones?
View attachment 1251665

If there be a necessity. You gonna pump gasoline to the International Space Station

 

[Hafar1014]

Not everywhere, but there is light in space that is invisible to us because we lack the ability to see it.
The light we see—the rainbow of colors from red to violet—is only a tiny fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, representing less than \(0.0035\%\) of the total range. The rest of the spectrum consists of "invisible light" that is constantly passing through space and all around us, undetectable to human eyes. [1, 2, 3]

Give up you made a dumb statement and now you look even worse.

 

[postman]

Energy runs the world economy…tell us how solar and wind could even attempt to replace current demand. What would that look like?

You know how in cereal commercials, they say that the cereal is part of a balanced breakfast.

Solar would be part of a balanced energy energy economy. Along with efficiency, sustainability and alternative energy storage.

 

[postman]

If there be a necessity. You gonna pump gasoline to the International Space Station

Extension cord.

 

[Moonglow]

Give up you made a dumb statement and now you look even worse.

Thanks, not everyone is as dapper as yous.

 

[Marener]

Energy runs the world economy…tell us how solar and wind could even attempt to replace current demand. What would that look like?

Energy production is an all options on the table.

Except coal. It’s by far the worst option.

But again, MAGA chooses to shove it down our throats at the expense of average working class Americans.