[Vince Ferrer]

Caption: Smokestacks from the coal-fired Plant Scherer are silhouetted against the sky in Juliette, Ga., on June 3. (Branden Camp/AP)

Fake news.

This is a common photographic trick for environmentalists. First, these are not "smokestacks," they are cooling towers. What is coming out of the cooling tower is water vapor, which becomes visible when it mixes with cooler air. The photos are always taken at the right angle to have the light highlight the vapor clouds and make it look like smoke. These look black only because the light is behind them.

[sheana]

My cousin was a gate guard at a plant like this in Pryor Ok Pure water vapor. They have signs on the road that runs along side the plant that states something about low visibility and being extra careful. Only one I’ve ever seen in person. They’re pretty awesome when putting out the vapor.