By Peter Molenaar
Tucked in the south-west corner of the Phillips Neighborhood is an impressive facility dubbed the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center. The Center saw our Congressman Keith Ellison play host to a “celebration of the Clean Power Plan.” Yes, the aggrandizements were well distributed, to be sure. However, my inner voice rudely screamed, over and over: “What”'s the plan for the plan, man, what”'s the plan for the plan?”
Let”'s assume, as some people do, that vast wind and solar farms might sustain a modern economy and prevent social disaster. Then, by what source of energy would we arrive at this happy conclusion? Answer: a heavy draw from coal fired plants. (Note: I worked 35 years at Smith Foundry.) Meanwhile, glaciers and icecaps disappear.
True, existing coal fired plants might achieve a 30% emissions reduction by switching to natural gas. But, wait. Synfuel, derived from natural gas, was to have been the replacement for petroleum derived gasoline”¦synfuel being engine ready, less expensive, and much cleaner burning. Oops”¦can”'t go there now, not under the “plan.”
What”'s a rational nation to do?
Knowing that, in the transition period, we must rely on coal reserves, it follows:Â the technology to sequester CO2 emissions (in the form of algae) must be developed and mandated for existing coal fired plants. The goal should be an 80% reduction in emissions (not 30%). Okay?
Forgive me, please”¦
The separate power plants do not have the where-with-all to develop the required technology, and this is why the “Clean Power Plan” is nothing but a formula for disaster.
Hey, the Manhattan project produced the A-bomb, and yes, we did put a man on the moon. Must we make revolution to preserve the planet for precious living things?
