Their two cents

The Washington Times recently released disturbing news that the clean energy and jobs bill currently before Congress will let some utilities get away with building new coal plants without having to equip the facilities with the technology to capture dangerous pollution.

Instead, coal and utility lobbyists want us to pay to clean up their dirty coal. According to the Center for American Progress, the companies that comprise the lead coal-industry front group spend less than $0.02 of every dollar they earn to research and develop the supposed "clean coal" technology they say justifies building new coal plants. However they do have a $40 million communications budget and are spending the most money on lobbying in Washington DC to weaken legislation to address climate change.

Read more at the Institute for Southern Studies.

Like Oil and Water: Coal and Climate Don't Mix

Last week, 60 Minutes on CBS aired a segment called "The Dilemma Over Coal Generated Power." The segment features Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers and NASA climate scientist Dr. Jim Hansen discussing the urgent need to address climate change despite our addiction to dirty coal.

Rogers today announced that Duke Energy will not renew its membership in the National Association of Manufacturers partly because of differences over climate policy, but meanwhile he is building his own dirty coal plant in Rutherford County North Carolina.

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy's executive director Stephen Smith watched the segment and provides some context here. Or check out the Institute for Southern Studies' blog about how Duke Energy execs lose their cool over intensifying pressure to address climate change.