Here is today's Op/Ed from the WV Coal Association. He mentions Sierra Club by name. Anyone want to write a rebuttal?
JBK
(The WV Coal Association represents the owners. They profess great concern for mine workers, but then abandon them as soon as it is convenient).
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamil...
[http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CH/20160710/GZ0405/16...]http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary
Chris Hamilton: Coal isn't over, despite hopeless commentaryhttp://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary www.wvgazettemail.com I am forever amazed at the misinformation published about coal mining. Such was the case in a Sunday Gazette-Mail column by former Coalwood resident and retired Army Colonel Herman H. Jones (June 5), who offered only hopelessness as the future for West Virginia coal and the residents who mine it.
posted as a "comment" a few moments ago:
Read and reread this commentary by a coal industry representative, and note one thing: Nowhere in this does the author once mention the impact on coal of the discovery of massive amounts of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. No, forget the fact that major utilities across the country voluntarily converted from coal to natural gas -- solely because of its cheap price - $2/mcf, down 80% from its peak $13/mcf in 2008. No, it wasn't the market. It was "artificial manipulation" of electric markets by those evil bureaucrats who came to power in 2009 (you're supposed to read that as Jan 20, 2009, i.e., Obama). And disregard the gross expansion of debt by Peabody and the other major coal companies in the years 2011 and following, blindly expecting the good times to roll on forever; nope, that played no role in putting the entire industry in bankruptcy. One cannot help but observe that, if this commentary is the most intellectual power the coal industry can bring to the topic, it's no wonder they've gone bust. But the industry's future is, despite the dim bulbs at the helm, not hopeless. Their best hope for the future? The world is scheduled to go from 7 billion folks to 9 billion over the next 20 or so years; the coal industry may just hang on to a niche in that ever expanding world. If only they will take off the blinders and look at the world with eyes open and an actually functioning intellect.
William V. DePaulo, Esq. 122 N Court Street, Suite 300 Lewisburg, WV 24901 Tel 304-342-5588 Fax 866-850-1501 william.depaulo@gmail.com www.passeggiata.com www.casasanta.org
On Sun, Jul 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM, James Kotcon jkotcon@wvu.edu wrote:
Here is today's Op/Ed from the WV Coal Association. He mentions Sierra Club by name. Anyone want to write a rebuttal?
JBK
(The WV Coal Association represents the owners. They profess great concern for mine workers, but then abandon them as soon as it is convenient).
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamil...
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary Chris Hamilton: Coal isn’t over, despite hopeless commentary http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary www.wvgazettemail.com I am forever amazed at the misinformation published about coal mining. Such was the case in a Sunday Gazette-Mail column by former Coalwood resident and retired Army Colonel Herman H. Jones (June 5), who offered only hopelessness as the future for West Virginia coal and the residents who mine it.
EC mailing list EC@osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec
If I was going to write a rebuttal, I’d offer several factors and thoughts as follows.
First, the planet crisis of climate change is a huge gap in Hamilton’s discussion...and that is the realities of worsening climate change due to coal GHG emissions. The implicit denial is very significant.
The only technological answer that has been offered for many years by the coal industry, and the MOC’s, is the Carbon Capture & Sequestration, (CCS), approach. But it has gone no where because it is technically not feasible at most power plants due to the volumes of emissions, the lack of geologically appropriate substructures, and because the cost of CCS.
CCS will take a significant percentage of the plants power to function, hence not only an added capital cost of the plant, but its operating costs, AND, a reduction of available power to sell. CCS is neither technically of financially feasible.
Secondly, the cost of the alternatives, solar, wind, have been dropping so rapidly that, according to some reports, now solar demand power plants can compete with any and all coal fired power, and win. Some reports say that while solar is still more costly than gas, it’s getting competitive there too, and will be in the very near future.
One recent article reported on how China has stopped the construction of any new coal fired power plants, but is planning, and already building, several huge Concentrated Solar Power plants...one predicted to be the largest in the world.
(I personally was technically and financially involved in the construction of 9 CSP plants for SCE in the Mojave Desert in the mid 1980’s, when the fossil fuel nayslayers like Hamilton screamed that “these plants will never pay for themselves until oil gets to be $14. per barrel”!)
The global trends from Germany to China to Canada are away from coal. Canada has now shut down all coal fired power plants nation wide, and has more jobs in renewable energy than the entire fossil fuels industries combined...oil, coal and gas!
The Ontario Power Authority that manages all the power generation in that Province used to be Arch Coal’s biggest customer!
Third, Hamilton’s job is to protect and advocate for the coal companies and their shareholders...and pay lip service to miner safety and their families plight as the mines close...but miners can be retrained into clean safe jobs especially in the renewable energy economic sector. We mine silica in West Virginia. There is a refining plant in Alloy WV that then ships it out of State to pharmaceutical companies, and yes, to the manufacturers of solar cells.
According to a recent article that I read recently, (but have not looked to find it yet), 1 of 6 jobs created in the US was in renewable energy. And the US is headed to the same statistic about renewable energy jobs vs. the fossil fuel industries that I cited above has been achieved in Canada.
Why does the Leadership not pursue the jobs that will be created by transitioning to solar cell manufacturing, installation and maintenance? We know the answer. The political clout of the Coal Association in WV is only surpassed by the NRA!
My thoughts
Allan
From: William V. DePaulo, Esq. Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2016 9:15 AM To: James Kotcon Cc: rudhdi.karnik@sierraclub.org ; Nachy Kanfer ; ec@osenergy.org ; Seth Long ; David Muhly Subject: Re: [EC] Coal Isn't Over - Chris Hamilton
posted as a "comment" a few moments ago:
Read and reread this commentary by a coal industry representative, and note one thing: Nowhere in this does the author once mention the impact on coal of the discovery of massive amounts of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. No, forget the fact that major utilities across the country voluntarily converted from coal to natural gas -- solely because of its cheap price - $2/mcf, down 80% from its peak $13/mcf in 2008. No, it wasn't the market. It was "artificial manipulation" of electric markets by those evil bureaucrats who came to power in 2009 (you're supposed to read that as Jan 20, 2009, i.e., Obama). And disregard the gross expansion of debt by Peabody and the other major coal companies in the years 2011 and following, blindly expecting the good times to roll on forever; nope, that played no role in putting the entire industry in bankruptcy. One cannot help but observe that, if this commentary is the most intellectual power the coal industry can bring to the topic, it's no wonder they've gone bust. But the industry's future is, despite the dim bulbs at the helm, not hopeless. Their best hope for the future? The world is scheduled to go from 7 billion folks to 9 billion over the next 20 or so years; the coal industry may just hang on to a niche in that ever expanding world. If only they will take off the blinders and look at the world with eyes open and an actually functioning intellect.
William V. DePaulo, Esq. 122 N Court Street, Suite 300 Lewisburg, WV 24901 Tel 304-342-5588 Fax 866-850-1501 william.depaulo@gmail.com www.passeggiata.com
www.casasanta.org
On Sun, Jul 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM, James Kotcon jkotcon@wvu.edu wrote:
Here is today's Op/Ed from the WV Coal Association. He mentions Sierra Club by name. Anyone want to write a rebuttal?
JBK
(The WV Coal Association represents the owners. They profess great concern for mine workers, but then abandon them as soon as it is convenient).
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamil...
Chris Hamilton: Coal isn’t over, despite hopeless commentary www.wvgazettemail.com I am forever amazed at the misinformation published about coal mining. Such was the case in a Sunday Gazette-Mail column by former Coalwood resident and retired Army Colonel Herman H. Jones (June 5), who offered only hopelessness as the future for West Virginia coal and the residents who mine it.
_______________________________________________ EC mailing list EC@osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ EC mailing list EC@osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec
While I was writing another comment, Bill's comment disappeared and my comment with it.
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On Sun, Jul 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM -0400, "James Kotcon" <jkotcon@wvu.edumailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu> wrote:
Here is today's Op/Ed from the WV Coal Association. He mentions Sierra Club by name. Anyone want to write a rebuttal?
JBK
(The WV Coal Association represents the owners. They profess great concern for mine workers, but then abandon them as soon as it is convenient).
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamil...
[http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CH/20160710/GZ0405/16...]http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary
Chris Hamilton: Coal isn't over, despite hopeless commentaryhttp://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary www.wvgazettemail.com I am forever amazed at the misinformation published about coal mining. Such was the case in a Sunday Gazette-Mail column by former Coalwood resident and retired Army Colonel Herman H. Jones (June 5), who offered only hopelessness as the future for West Virginia coal and the residents who mine it.
MY COMMENT APPEARS TO BE UP NOW, ALONG WITH ONE MORE....IT IS NOW 12:35
https://www.facebook.com/william.depaulo William V. DePaulo https://www.facebook.com/william.depaulo · Georgetown University Law Center https://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgetown-University-Law-Center/112621478753141 Read and reread this commentary by a coal industry representative, and note one thing: Nowhere in this does the author once mention the impact on coal of the discovery of massive amounts of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. No, forget the fact that major utilities across the country voluntarily converted from coal to natural gas -- solely because of its cheap price - $2/mcf, down 80% from its peak $13/mcf in 2008. No, it wasn't the market. It was "artificial manipulation" of electric markets by those evil bureaucrats who came to power in 2009 (you're supposed to read that as Jan 20, 2009, i...See More https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key=466107013410205&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df80f4d01d1e06a%26domain%3Dwww.wvgazettemail.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%252Ff166655d0722c5a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&colorscheme=light&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3Favis%3DCH%26date%3D20160710%26category%3DGZ0405%26lopenr%3D160719979%26Ref%3DAR&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&skin=light&version=v2.0&width=100%25# Like https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key=466107013410205&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df80f4d01d1e06a%26domain%3Dwww.wvgazettemail.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%252Ff166655d0722c5a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&colorscheme=light&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3Favis%3DCH%26date%3D20160710%26category%3DGZ0405%26lopenr%3D160719979%26Ref%3DAR&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&skin=light&version=v2.0&width=100%25# · Reply https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key=466107013410205&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df80f4d01d1e06a%26domain%3Dwww.wvgazettemail.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%252Ff166655d0722c5a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&colorscheme=light&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3Favis%3DCH%26date%3D20160710%26category%3DGZ0405%26lopenr%3D160719979%26Ref%3DAR&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&skin=light&version=v2.0&width=100%25# · 2 · 3 hrs http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?fb_comment_id=1051666438253575_1051892668230952 https://www.facebook.com/robert.coffman.1238 Robert Coffman https://www.facebook.com/robert.coffman.1238 · West Virginia University https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Virginia-University/105579262808282 Mr. DePaulo, it appears that the truth about coal is unwelcome in WV! Your last few paragraphs were overlaid by headlines of other articles. Couldn't be read! Accidental,I think not! Please continue to bring truth and honesty to the people of WV! Like https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key=466107013410205&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df80f4d01d1e06a%26domain%3Dwww.wvgazettemail.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%252Ff166655d0722c5a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&colorscheme=light&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3Favis%3DCH%26date%3D20160710%26category%3DGZ0405%26lopenr%3D160719979%26Ref%3DAR&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&skin=light&version=v2.0&width=100%25# · Reply https://www.facebook.com/plugins/feedback.php?api_key=466107013410205&channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter.php%3Fversion%3D42%23cb%3Df80f4d01d1e06a%26domain%3Dwww.wvgazettemail.com%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%252Ff166655d0722c5a%26relation%3Dparent.parent&colorscheme=light&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvgazettemail.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3Favis%3DCH%26date%3D20160710%26category%3DGZ0405%26lopenr%3D160719979%26Ref%3DAR&locale=en_US&numposts=10&sdk=joey&skin=light&version=v2.0&width=100%25# · 1 hr http://www.wvgazettemail.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?fb_comment_id=1051666438253575_1051943554892530
William V. DePaulo, Esq. 122 N Court Street, Suite 300 Lewisburg, WV 24901 Tel 304-342-5588 Fax 866-850-1501 william.depaulo@gmail.com www.passeggiata.com www.casasanta.org
On Sun, Jul 10, 2016 at 11:10 AM, Yarnell, Karen < Karen.Yarnell@fairmontstate.edu> wrote:
While I was writing another comment, Bill's comment disappeared and my comment with it.
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On Sun, Jul 10, 2016 at 8:36 AM -0400, "James Kotcon" jkotcon@wvu.edu wrote:
Here is today's Op/Ed from the WV Coal Association. He mentions Sierra Club by name. Anyone want to write a rebuttal?
JBK
(The WV Coal Association represents the owners. They profess great concern for mine workers, but then abandon them as soon as it is convenient).
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamil...
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary Chris Hamilton: Coal isn’t over, despite hopeless commentary http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20160710/chris-hamilton-coal-isnt-over-despite-hopeless-commentary www.wvgazettemail.com I am forever amazed at the misinformation published about coal mining. Such was the case in a Sunday Gazette-Mail column by former Coalwood resident and retired Army Colonel Herman H. Jones (June 5), who offered only hopelessness as the future for West Virginia coal and the residents who mine it.
EC mailing list EC@osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec
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Yarnell, Karen