Finally read the book "Big Coal" that came out two years ago, but recently came out in paperback. It details the mining (Wyoming), shipping (Burlington Northern Sante Fe), and burning (Southern Company) of coal. The author spent quite a bit of time at all these places and China getting specific details....very specific details. Basically, it details most of the shortcuts of each industry to sidestep environmental and safety regulations.....and how some of these issues are starting to backfire. The mines intentionally use inaccurate maps to ensure mining of dangerous areas. The railroads use their coal hauling monopoly to charge about 180% the established cost of shipping. The power companies build new plants on the foundations of old plants to avoid adding any scubbers. ....but things are better in China.....the government does not have much in the way of standards for their coal industry.
Sounds like a thoroughly depressing book. Depressing because it is totally belivable from what I've seen and read in other industries. I'll look it up. If I can get an audio version cheap I'll pick it up.
The details of any industry that exploits natural resources is depressing. But this book was more informative than depressing....and good information provides the motivation for improving. It was two small news items that made me find out more about coal and solar power plants. In FL the legislature killed off the proposed Glades power plant (coal) and then months later there was an announcement of a phased concentrated solar plant. Reading this helps understand why this change is happening.
Sounds like Cost cutting and passing the buck to remain competitive and to avoid giving up market share. Unfortunately all anyone really cares about is cheap energy (everyone says that they want clean and renewable energy, but nobody wants to foot the bill) (sort of like good school systems)
Can you give us a little more detail on the new items? What were some of the reasons they scrapped the coal plant? What are some of the specs on the CSP plant?
Southwest Florida Online - Sunday Morning News: FPL Glades Power Plant Voted Down is a link describing the coal plant rejection vote. State: FPL unveils plans for a solar plant is a link for the Solar Plant announcement later in the year.
I am willing to foot the bill. And bribing officials is a very smart investment to stay "competitive". Read the book.
Good on you lot (Floridans) on both counts. CSP makes sense (a lot) and I hope to see more installations over the next decade. CA is planning to build some and CO is also going to build one. Seems like Texas might be a good candidate along with AZ and NM. We really should be able to power a lot of the country with this stuff. Firmed up with NG it's a very good solution. Eventually, we can do away with the NG, but by using sun light for most of the capacity we can extend the amount of time we have to work on NG alternatives.
