Posted on 04/22/2008 9:58:15 PM PDT by neverdem
CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy — At a time when the world’s top climate experts agree that carbon emissions must be rapidly reduced to hold down global warming, Italy’s major electricity producer, Enel, is converting its massive power plant here from oil to coal, generally the dirtiest fuel on earth.
Over the next five years, Italy will increase its reliance on coal to 33 percent from 14 percent. Power generated by Enel from coal will rise to 50 percent.
And Italy is not alone in its return to coal. Driven by rising demand, record high oil and natural gas prices, concerns over energy security and an aversion to nuclear energy, European countries are expected to put into operation about 50 coal-fired plants over the next five years, plants that will be in use for the next five decades.
In the United States, fewer new coal plants are likely to begin operations, in part because it is becoming harder to get regulatory permits and in part because nuclear power remains an alternative. Of 151 proposals in early 2007, more than 60 had been dropped by the year’s end, many blocked by state governments. Dozens of other are stuck in court challenges.
The fast-expanding developing economies of India and China, where coal remains a major fuel source for more than two billion people, have long been regarded as among the biggest challenges to reducing carbon emissions. But the return now to coal even in eco-conscious Europe is sowing real alarm among environmentalists who warn that it is setting the world on a disastrous trajectory that will make controlling global warming impossible.
They are aghast at the renaissance of coal, a fuel more commonly associated with the sooty factories of Dickens novels, and one that was on its way out just a decade ago...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Greens need to be ignored as worthless inhuman parasites.
With Berlusconi back in as PM and with a sizable majority to back him up, maybe they’ll even restart some of the nuclear plants they mothballed.
By the way, this time around the Greens got ZERO seats in parliament.
Wind Power Whips Through Texas
Barack Obama & the Wisdom of Forrest Gump PA 99% reporting - Billary 54.7%
Free People Are Happy People — especially when strong personal morality guides their choices.
From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
Coal acutally cools down the earth as it particles prevent sunlight from hitting the earth’s surface.
Excellent! Let’s hope that the economic pressure on the average American will cause them to pull their head out of the place where the sign don’t shine and tell the Green’s and their socialist cohorts to take a hike while America converts to nuclear, gas and clean burning coal which will provide about a gazillion years worth of energy.
Frosty the Snowman will look more like Li’l Orphan Annie once the Greenmailers take over. Thanks neverdem.
Thanks for the ping!
Do you think that will really happen? Most people still seem to be in denial. When someone complains about the price of gas, I tell them, well, to bring it down, we need to drill for more oil - to increase the supply. The answer is no, “I don’t want that”. These are republicans, for goodness sake.
And an a couple of more weeks, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day. Another Communist founded holiday.
Good.
All those bitter Pennsylvanians can now go back to their jobs in the coal mines.
No, not overnight but people are beginning to be hit by a double assault - rapid escalation of the cost of both fuel and food. And both are traceable to the strangling cost of oil.
Those at the lower end of the economic ladder now have to, or soon will have to, make a choice between filling the tank with gas or buying the quality of food they are used to.
Considering that energy is a fundamental driver of our economy, its truly reprehensible that both parties have allowed the country to become economically dependent on foreign oil with the result that the combined impact of escalating demand and OPEC's control of supply are causing the current squeeze.
I think Americans are willing to tolerate and support the idea of a pristine environment and the fantasy that we can influence global warming when they have discretionary income and are feeling reasonably secure.
But when their quality of life seriously deteriorates due to the stubborn policies that prevent us from exploiting the plentiful domestic energy supplies we do have, people will begin to rebel against those who think a pristine Mother Earth is a higher priority than the economic security of the average American family.
LOL! Thanks for the laugh!
Great job, Times, you didn’t get beyond the first phrase of the first sentence before dropping the first lie.
welcome news
“In the United States, fewer new coal plants are likely to begin operations, in part because it is becoming harder to get regulatory permits and in part because nuclear power remains an alternative.”
So why hasn’t a nuclear power plant been built in the United States since the Three Mile Island episode?
Typical egghead liberal ignoring the advances in pollution control and trying to scare with images of "Dickens".
The global warming debate deniers strike again.
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