Posted on 12/02/2007 1:24:30 PM PST by Coleus
To stop climate change, the nation must "stop coal," a top environmental architect urged during a speech at Ramapo College's conference on climate change. Edward Mazria, who has led efforts nationwide to build more-energy-efficient buildings, said the only way to control global warming is "an immediate moratorium on all new coal-fired power plants in the United States" and a phaseout of older coal plants.
"Climate change is the greatest challenge we have ever faced," he told an audience of more than 400 at the conference. "Either we get it under control or we face very dramatic consequences." Mazria is the author of "The Passive Solar Energy Handbook," considered the bible of solar design. He said the use of coal must be stopped because coal is the only fossil fuel left in the massive amounts necessary to generate enough greenhouse gases to cause catastrophic rises in temperatures and sea levels.
To compensate for the energy lost by erasing the 151 coal-fired plants currently on the drawing board nationwide, Mazria called for intensive research efforts on solar power and an overhaul of how buildings are constructed and older buildings are renovated. According to Mazria, the building sector can achieve huge energy savings because it currently accounts for almost half of the nation's energy consumption and resultant greenhouse gases.
Ramapo Professor Michael Edelstein, the conference's organizer, praised Mazria's plan as "by far the most specific suggestions anyone has made anywhere" on climate change. Edelstein said the changes in building construction needed to drastically cut regional energy use would be a major challenge in New Jersey. "New Jersey and New York are home-rule states, and every municipality sets its own rules," he said. "Basically, if you want to start to shift this immediately, you have to get them in a room now and start changing your local approval process now."
Jeanne Fox, president of the State Board of Public Utilities, said in a panel discussion that New Jersey was working on new building codes as well as new energy standards for appliances. The one-day conference also featured speeches by former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio and noted environmental author Bill McKibben, as well as sessions on how New Jersey will meet its ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse-gas emission by 20 percent by 2020. Florio laid out some of the tough and complex choices on global warming that the United States must make in coming years, pointing out ruefully that "democracy doesn't deal with complicated ideas very well." McKibben was scheduled to speak Friday night on the societal changes required to make the planet sustainable.
Attending the conference were environmental professionals, local government officials, college students, lawyers, architects, engineers and interested citizens from the tri-state region. A green expo held in conjunction with the conference continues today at the college's Bradley Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Maybe we should stop selling so much coal to Europe.
Yawn...
I don’t see nukes mentioned by these morons that are intent on taking over the energy supply.
They already built that communal housing. It’s called “Projects” and has the great advantage of easy access to drugs and drug dealers.
It is also reported they are planning to start up Coal Fired Plants at this rate for the next five years.
AND WE ARE TO START SHUTTING OURS DOWN???
Most any coal fired boiler with basic Filters and Scrubbers and knowledgable operators are just great for the environment. We have a lot coal - lets get it and use it.
We have oil reserves - lets get them and use them.
Nuclear Power plants are safe (certainly safer than riding in Teddy’s car) - lets build them and use them.
Want energy independence - do the obvious! Conserve and increase the supply - now thats complicated.
In the meantime expand solar energy use beyond calculators and Traffic cameras.
Remember a lot of our imported oil comes from areas of the world that are doing their best to kill us!
Kansas and Oklahoma have each turned down applications for coal fired power plants that will be needed for future use. These are scrubbed power plants and the Oklahoma one would have used CCT to ensure emissions control. At some point American citizens will be TOLD to reduce electrical usage and you can probably get used to rolling brownouts.
The U.S. has the worlds greatest reserves of coal.
Of course the America haters want us to not use it.
Gee. And we have the world’s largest supply — enough for 300 years. What a coincidence!
~~ AGW™ ping~~
Talk to the Chinese.
Interesting that the single best way to acheive energy independence is the worst possible thing for the climate. He wouldn’t have a hidden agenda would he?
Energy = Wealth. Socialists know that controlling energy will lead to control of wealth.
The paper birch or white birch and the alder do quite well here but most don’t go over 30 feet. Some birch, especially if they have lots of space grow 50 feet tall. The black spruce and aspen do better and attain 30 feet or more after many years. None of these are commercial value. The white spruce are large enough to make some lumber if you don’t mind warping and cracking.
No coal.
No nukes.
No windmills.
Ethanol causing water shortages, and higher corn prices.
Just what the hell do these dorks propose?
They are the family planning, gov’t planning, population control fanatics. Guess what they propose.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I've said right along that the greens want to take us back to a hunter-gatherer soviety.
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