Posted on 02/26/2007 12:37:32 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON – One of the world's top scientists on global warming called for the United States to stop building coal-fired power plants and eventually bulldoze older generators that don't capture and bury greenhouse gases.
But 159 coal-fired power plants are scheduled to be built in the next decade or so, generating enough power for about 96 million homes, according to a study last month by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Burning coal is one of the major sources of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas causing global warming.
In prepared remarks to be delivered at the National Press Club Monday afternoon, NASA scientist James Hansen, who has been one of the earliest top researchers to warn the world about global warming, will call for a moratorium on building new coal-fired power plants.
Hansen's call dovetails with an edict by the private equity group buying TXU, a massive Texas-based utility. The equity group, led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Texas Pacific Group, agreed to stop plans to build eight new coal-fired power plants, not to propose new coal-fired plants outside Texas and to support mandatory national caps on emissions linked to global warming.
Hansen's presentation to the press club says all coal-fired power plants that do not capture and bury carbon dioxide “must eventually be bulldozed (before mid-century).”
The director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, who was speaking as a private citizen, said Congress should adopt these coal cuts and if not, “citizens must accomplish this.” He said increased efficiency can make up for the cutbacks in coal.
Coal provides about half of the United States' electricity, according to the Department of Energy.
Hansen's call “ought to be vetted by those who have an understanding of the energy demands placed on the U.S. economy,” said National Mining Association spokesman Luke Popovich. “When seen in light of those demands, then statements like that will appear unreasonable, to put it charitably.”
So there you have it, in a world where California has rolling blackouts we want less electric power.
Keep voting democrat :D
"If you torture the data long enough, it will confess, even to crimes it did not commit"
James Hansen, bought and paid for by the Heinz Foundation.
Too bad we are not building 159 new Nuclear Power Plants.
Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?
His home is undoubtedly powered by solar or wind power, isn't it?
"So there you have it, in a world where California has rolling blackouts we want less electric power. "
But the wealthy in California, (e.g. Hollywood), have generators, so it's no problem for them. They're all for getting rid of stinky things that make the little people's lives better.
KKR is interested in breaking up and selling off pieces of TXU. Building power plants was never part of their process.
Somehow I knew the headline referred to Hansen before I read the article. He is building a career on the alleged accuracy of the global warming computer forcasts.
Go nuclear, 100% clean and no greenhouse gasses.............Oh, they don't like nuclear, either?.....hypocrites!.......
The fact is, if you scratch an advocate for global warming - any advocate - you'll find someone who believes fervently that the human race would be far better off than it is today if we all simply went back to living in caves, spent our days grubbing for roots and edible tubers, and our nights cowering by the fire and searching each other for lice.
Or is TXU planning to build Nukes?
Fine, let the screwball pull his house off the grid and freeze to death in the dark.
Thanks.
They need to set up a global warming scientist&expert trading program. There must be thousands of greens on the payroll already.
This guy is an outright Bush hater.
"Top global warming scientist" = "Top evolution scientist" = "Top religion scientist"
The equity group, led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Texas Pacific Group, agreed to stop plans to build eight new coal-fired power plants, not to propose new coal-fired plants outside Texas and to support mandatory national caps on emissions linked to global warming."
Nice scam. Say you were going to build coal plants (true or not), announce that you will stop this plan, earn carbon credits.
"The equity group, led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co."
No surprise that financial traders would prefer to make their money off financial paper trades than by building something.
Enron had "built" fictional plants in Russia which they intended to "close" in order to earn carbon credits.
Carolyn
I want to call for a moratorium on providing press coverage for "global warming researchers."
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