Posted on 11/19/2016 3:16:30 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
In years past coal was a “dirty source” of energy. Look at China it is horrible. In modern day plants with scrubbers it is clean clean clean. The reason coal is in decline is the insane rules about CO2 emissions. CO2 is plant food. In fact harvests around the world are at record levels. It is plant food. If you look at CO2 levels in the past we are enduring a CO2 drought. To make the planet bloom we need more CO2.
Ice Ages and interglacial periods are caused by sun cycles and orbital mechanics of the earth. In fact the normal for earth is ice age. Currently we are in that rare period of warmth when man, animal, life and earth prosper. It is normally a short period of 15 to 20 thousand years.
Historically we should be on the verge of the next ice age.
"Admittedly, this was about fifty years ago and the equations have probably changed. But I wonder if coal has been surpassed in its primary role."
Still valid with the exception of nuclear power not mentioned. It is also very good at raising steam but has become politically unacceptable. If regulations were not such as they are, it would be the best source of raising steam but coal is also very very very good.
In addition with our abundance of natural gas is is also very good for mobile applications such as cars and trucks. It can also be catalyzed into liquid fuel products for applications in aviation. Due to weight and volume restrictions in aviation you must have a fuel with much energy in a compact space. Thus with current technology that is Jet A or aviation grade gasoline for piston engine craft. In fact after being catalyzed it is Jet A fuel or aviation gasoline that the airlines use today.
In addition coal can also be chemically cracked and turned into liquid fuels such a Jet A and gasoline. The chemical cracking and synthesizing of coal into liquid products involves a large penalty in thermal input to do this, because you need a lot of heat. However, the cost of coal makes this a very competitive product. You can make all the heat you want to with coal and it is cheap. The insane rules on CO2 emissions is the reason this is not done.
The United States has an huge abundance of energy to be tapped if the government will get the hell out of the way.
I spent 17 years in the oilfields around the world before I was a pharmacist. I know of which I speak. Get the EPA and government bureaucrats off our backs and we will deliver all the energy you want at rock bottom prices.
I don’t need lectures on the free market and the need to limit government.
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Sorry. I see the “the President needs to DO SOMETHING” argument a lot among the libtards, it’s made me a little gunshy.
So, this is winning......
Nuclear should be part of the mix, as well.
But it evident that the Times' article was incorrect about the utility of coal. It remains a valid, cost-efficient competitor in many fuel applications.
If, as you say, the government would just get out of the way!
You remember the bumper sticker:
LIBERATARIANS WANT TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!
And leave you alone.
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