Not that they haven’t already with New Source Review (40 CFR 52.21). No coal-fired major (>400 Mw(e)) power plants have been built in the US since 1978 when Zimmer was converted from nuclear to coal. Now, they add another artificial barrier through carbon-dioxide limits. http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...power-plants/2012/03/26/gIQAiJTscS_story.html Ratepayers: get ready for skyrocketing electric rates.
A oil plant would be preferable? Of course not and that's why your argument is a farce. If the regulations covered both oil and gas you'd have a point, but it doesn't and therefore you don't. Know how this stuff gets passed? Big oil pays for it to, coal is big oils biggest fear, chemically carbon fuels are far and away the most efficient oil and coal are the two best sources for this, one doesn't want any competition from the other, simple as that. Worst of all it's legislation by fiat, congress as per usual with this President was skirted and the authoritarian state dictates regulation.
Nobody in the US uses oil for generating electricity except in Alaska and Hawaii. No. 2 middle distillate fuel oil is very expensive - about $25/MMBTU. Coal costs about $2.00 per MMBTU. Guess who owns the coal companies? Oil companies. Just like they own the big players in natural gas, wind and solar. Exxon, BP et all view themselves as energy companies, not oil companies. Get ready for your rates to skyrocket.
All the coal mine operators have to do is grow enough Miscanthus giganteus to mix 40% with the coal (it is good to 50 /50). Miscanthus giganteus is pretty much carbon neutral, so the power plant "pollutes" less than the limit. The US used 25TWhr in 2009, 40% comes from Miscanthus giganteus. Assuming is converts 10% of the suns energy to burnable mass, ..... Wonder what half the state of Nebraska would sell for?
Wow, bankrupting the coal industry might be the only promise President Obama actually will try to keep. Try living downwind from a OccupyNitwit encampement.
You should find out what you're talking about...oil is not replacing coal at electric plants. Oil is in the same position as coal.....trying to be forced out by the government. They are replacing it with Natural Gas..a new resource to the electric companies who are going to have to be refitted and many of them closed, at an astronomical cost to YOU and the american people. The electric companies also do not think they can keep up with the demand for electricity which should also run the cost up again. The government will completely control domestic energy soon, since they are banning all the domestic energy sources, and then they can dole it out to you, tax you for excess use, or whatever else they want to do to you. You may be right though, Obama may not control the EPA...not sure but...they may control him. They should charge the EPA with TREASON to the American people. AND it always amazes me since they are so worried about you getting lung cancer from the electric plants that smoking is still legal???? Get a clue!
when we get ride of Obama most of this craziness will get rolled back. When Obama is gone the administration of the epa will once again be under reasonable businessmen who can balance the environment against the needs of the nation, it can be done. Obama appointed tree hugging college professors and believe me (be cause i have met some) they can be so far out of touch with the real world you won't beliveve they can drive a car.
