Jul 7, 2013 2 min read

Editor Michael Bradwell in The Energy Report published by the Observer-Reporter June 21 says “with a slightly different approach to regulations,” the coal industry “would be able to compete (with natural gas) while continuing to lower harmful emissions,” summarizing Jeff Kotula’s article, “A history lesson on setting achievable standards.” In the article, Kotula writes: “In essence, EPA is setting ‘unachievable’ goals for coal.” Kotula’s quotation marks around the word unachievable is pure propaganda, the whole point of The Energy Report and Clean, Green Coal billboards.

Kotula says Pennsylvania coal plants have spent $7 billion to reduce emissions. Since when and how effectively? By contrast, in the same issue of The Energy Report, a General Electric executive says his company has invested $15 billion in oil and natural gas over the past few years. GE “sees the need for resources far into the future.” By “resources,” he means fossil fuels, but saying so reminds us that there is already too much carbon in the atmosphere and that we must stop adding to it. Why?

Species are going extinct at a rate only seen at the end of geologic ages, this time caused by people. Will humans be among the survivors? Not likely, perhaps why those quoted above are getting theirs now as corporate shills. Meanwhile, there are teaching jobs for only one-third of current education majors and a shortage of pipeline welders in the gas and oil fields. Ignorance and fear of socialism will be required for both positions.

Jim Greenwood

Washington