House Environmental Committee Approves Coal Miner’s Day Resolution

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week reported out House Resolution 410 (DeWeese-D-Greene) that designates December 19 as "Coal Miner's Day" in Pennsylvania.

The Committee is Chaired by Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) and Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as the Republican Chair.

Plans for coal-fired electric nixed

The new owners of TXU, formerly Luminant, have dropped plans to build 8 of 11 proposed coal-fired power plants. The energy company has been taken private in a $45billion deal.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/2007/10/16/plan-to-build-8-coal-fired-power-plants-dropped/7838/

Coal Miner’s Day in PA

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets next week to consider House Resolution 410 (DeWeese-D-Greene) that designates December 19 as "Coal Miner's Day" in Pennsylvania.

The Committee is Chaired by Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) and Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as the Republican Chair.

Coal-to-Liquid Fuels

The House recently held a hearing on coal-to-liquid technology. They concluded that not only can't the industry compete with out federal support, but it will do nothing to reduce greenhouse emissions.

"The unavoidable fact is that liquid fuel made from coal contains essentially the same amount of carbon as is in gasoline or diesel made from petroleum. Given these results, it is not surprising that a recent Battelle study found that a significant coal-to-liquids industry is not compatible with stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations below twice the pre-industrial value. "--David Hawkins, NRDC

It doesn't look like King Coal will be coming to the rescue of the planet anytime soon.

Upcoming events

October 4, 2007, 7:00 PM: Panel on the Impact of Sprawl on Natural Resources. Brian Hill will serve as one of 4 panelists. Location: Widener Law School in Harrisburg. PEC is co-sponsoring with PCIEP.

October 15, 2007: PEC presenting to Joint Committee on our Climate Change Roadmap: Location: Harrisburg, PA

October 15, 2007, 6:00 PM: Philadelphia Urban Sustainability Forum - Mayoral Debate - Submit your YouTube questions by October 5th. Location: Academy of Natural Sciences. 19th and Ben Franklin Parkway.

October 18, 2007, 6:00PM: PEC NE Dinner. Nancy Cole from the Union of Concerned Scientists is the featured speaker. Location: Woodlands Inn, Wilkes-Barre.

October 19, 2007, 12noon: Environmental Partners Program in Philadelphia. Jointly sponsored by Senator Erickson and Representative Vitali.

October 23, 2007, 9:00AM-4:00PM: COALS Summit in Harrisburg. Location: Pennsylvania State Capitol Building North Office Building, Hearing Room 1, Harrisburg Please.

More info on all these events can be found on http://www.pecpa.org under "news and events."

Still don’t believe in Global Warming?

Here's more evidence of global warming. Check out this sea ice graphic from the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/01/science/20071002_ARCTIC_GRAPHIC.html?th&emc=th#

And if you're thinking it has nothing to do with Appalachia, where do you think most of the CO2 producing coal is coming from?

Cool Educational Tools

Really neat site that explains what all goes into the production of resource intensive products.

http://www.howproductsimpact.net/

 

A tongue-in-cheek metaphor poking holes in the feasibility of carbon emissions trading. From the UK, so prepared to be shocked/amused.

www.cheatneutral.com