Stop Coal! - By Robb

As oil gets more and more expensive to extract, currently we get 17 units of energy out of every 1 we invest, down from 100 at the beginning of the oil boom, resources that have better return will increasingly look more attractive. Coal has an 80/1 ratio. Coal is the absolute worst way to generate electricity in terms of carbon dumping to the atmosphere. There is no leeway left. Latest science indicates the situation is much more dire than the IPCC reports indicate, the science for those date back to 2005. Check out this fellows writing for more info, Thomas Homer-Dixon. You can also listen to one of his speeches here, Radio Ecoshock. We have a few choices left but they are dwindling. In another 20 years there will be one, geo engineering. Are you willing to leave this to tinkering with the planet on that scale?

There should not be another coal fired power plant built on this planet. Please see the Architecture 2030 discussion on this topic. They propose cutting consumption via our choices relating to the built environment which is absolutely necessary but we must also look at our personal consumption within our buildings as well. How many TV's do we need, how many computers, clothes dryers, ipods, dishwashers, hair dryers, cell phones, stereos, and security systems to protect all this junk. By continuing to demand more electricity to power our unsustainable lifestyles we are tacitly approving mountaintop removal and the construction of more coal fired power plants. Cut your demand now or leave a world of hurt to the children.