Arkansas Blog: Paid political message

A Southwest Arkansas reader, one of apparently only a handful concerned about the environmental impact local and globally from pumping more poison into the air at coal-fired generating plants, says he smells a rat in the announcement yesterday in the Hope Star of a coming conference on "clean coal" in Hope.

No rats. Just the electric power industry and their enablers putting a gloss over the dangers of toxic air to advance the cause of the planned SWEPCO coal burner in Hempstead County.

The two-day session includes the industry's friend, U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, and sundry other local elected officials who know who butters their bread. I'm a little disappointed to see Arkansas PSC Chair Colette Honorable leading a panel on "Making Clean Coal Technology a Reality." Does that sound like a PSC commissioner open to the possibility that even "clean" coal might not be the best energy option for the planet's future?

Of course there are no environmentalists on the program. Or any representatives of the group suing to block the SWEPCO power plant. Former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt is a highly touted participant. The article doesn't mention it, but Gephardt is a paid lobbyist for Peabody Energy. You know Peabody. They're the coal miners who hauled away Paradise in the famous John Prine song.

Write it all down to the progress of man.

(For another point of view, folks in Hope might want to motor up to Conway July 26. At 11 a.m. at Michelangelo's, Faulkner County Supporters of Sustainable Communities wiill hear James Burke of ECO talk about "Clean Energy and Coal." All are welcome.

(James tells me, too, that his group has started a "No Coal" show on KABF, 88.3, the community radio station in Little Rock, at 9 a.m. every Tuesday. You'll hear a little John Prine there, as well as useful information. Next Tuesday, the hosts will talk with Teresa Marks, director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Should be interesting.)

Comments

Maybe we should look at our world as the "engine" that it is. What happens when you run your engine out of coolant? Okay, we most likely agree on the outcome. Now, what is going to happen to our planet when its coolant,(the polar caps), finally melt away? I am of the opinion that this poor old delapidated rock we are doing our best to destroy just might overheat a little more than we are thinking right now. The internal workings of this planet are similar to, say a rotary engine. With the polar ice going,going, gone, what is to stop it from overheating, turning the oceans and rivers to steam causing a thickened atmosphere which in turn will cause the planet to "recycle" itself back into an ice ball. Scary isn't it!

Posted by: JNYJ | July 16, 2008 09:55 AM

It has gotten so bad that it is going to have to get worse before it can get any better. All of our institutions; government, education, journalism, religion, et al., are all in the toilet. American has become every man for himself. I just hope if gets worse soon enough that democracy itself doesn't hang in the balance. We've had our first fascist administration. We have no energy policy, no control over big business, our politicians are all whores. But, it could be worse.

Here's hoping it does so people will get a clue.

Posted by: Fletch | July 16, 2008 10:11 AM

Those using the words "clean" and "coal" together are attempting to mislead.

Coal is a dirty source of energy. There are ways to reduce the pollution but as yet no one has come up with any economically feasible way to get coal anywhere near "clean". At best less dirty.

So be aware, using the phrase "clean coal" is proof of misleading people.

Posted by: Citizen home | July 16, 2008 10:29 AM

Hope *for more acid rain* Arkansas. The Texas whole electric market couldn't fool Texans, I guess they knew where the real idiots live and how to make them celebrate their own demise.

Will there be free watermelon served at the toxic conference? They ought to add mercury to the melon now, just to start getting used to what lies ahead.

Posted by: Eureka Springs, AR | July 16, 2008 10:55 AM

If what is coming out of the stack is so "CLEAN" then don't use a smoke stack.

A smoke stack is a way to let people further removed from the site deal with the pollution.

If it is so clean then pump it out at street level on Main Street Hope. See if they are really believe what they are saying about "Clean Coal".

Posted by: Citizen home | July 16, 2008 11:45 AM

Clean Coal ! Isn't that just like a "safe cigarette?"

Tell us. WHo is in charge of the ROSY LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT?

This sounds just like "Healthy Forests" and "Clear Skies Initiative", only stupider.

NEW-SPEAK.
"the only language in the world whose vocabulary gets smaller every year."

U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D)- so now tell me how I'm throwing away my vote when I mark
Green Party candidates.

Posted by: eLwood | July 16, 2008 02:37 PM

Louie, you step in today. I've been painting all day and am too tired to blow the bugle.

Posted by: Cato | July 16, 2008 04:53 PM

Arkansas Blog

Paid political message

Comments

Post a comment