Coal to the rescue (Midwest: HOA, living, cost)

[GraniteStater]

Consensus says don’t further subsidize:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/08/regu...ar-plants.html

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by jody_wy

the original story was about coal filing the gap during the east recent cold spell as all other sources fell short, including the grid....

That grid is in the lower part of the east (states like TN, WV, NJ). Enlarged transmission lines are being built from Quebec to New England (one underway in VT, possibility one will be built through NH as well) that will feed more hydro power into the system and I have no doubt this power will at times be sent into that area at times like this reducing future needs for dirty coal power from the west. In other words anyone hoping this incident means coal has much of a future is simply grasping at straws. As more infrastructure for cleaner power is built coal will be totally eliminated in the east.

[jody_wy]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

That grid is in the lower part of the east (states like TN, WV, NJ). Enlarged transmission lines are being built from Quebec to New England (one underway in VT, possibility one will be built through NH as well) that will feed more hydro power into the system and I have no doubt this power will at times be sent into that area at times like this reducing future needs for dirty coal power from the west. In other words anyone hoping this incident means coal has much of a future is simply grasping at straws. As more infrastructure for cleaner power is built coal will be totally eliminated in the east.

Hydro not totally clean, loss of fish habitat, they tearing dams out in the west, carbon release from reservoirs. No problem with hydro , but feel better with off site storage ie. diversion dam and water stored of the main water drainage. A lot like water projects around Fremont Co Wyoming . There going to be a place for the west cleaner coal in the US power grid for awhile yet...

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by jody_wy

Hydro not totally clean, loss of fish habitat, they tearing dams out in the west, carbon release from reservoirs. No problem with hydro , but feel better with off site storage ie. diversion dam and water stored of the main water drainage. A lot like water projects around Fremont Co Wyoming . There going to be a place for the west cleaner coal in the US power grid for awhile yet...

All coal pumps mercury into the atmosphere which then gets deposited in water and soil downwind. There's no such thing as "clean" coal. It's all dirty.

I do worry about the fish issues with hydro but I do think we can engineer a way out of that. There's no real 100 percent solution to the problems with coal. Coal poisons my own personal water supply, I want coal relegated to the history books.

[jody_wy]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

All coal pumps mercury into the atmosphere which then gets deposited in water and soil downwind. There's no such thing as "clean" coal. It's all dirty.

I do worry about the fish issues with hydro but I do think we can engineer a way out of that. There's no real 100 percent solution to the problems with coal. Coal poisons my own personal water supply, I want coal relegated to the history books.

plants here take the mercury out, along with everything else , fly ash goes back into reclamation of the mine, only thing going out those stacks are CO2 and steam

Coal-Fired Dry Fork Station Unit 1 | Sargent & Lundy
zero emission power plant

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

That grid is in the lower part of the east (states like TN, WV, NJ). Enlarged transmission lines are being built from Quebec to New England (one underway in VT, possibility one will be built through NH as well) that will feed more hydro power into the system and I have no doubt this power will at times be sent into that area at times like this reducing future needs for dirty coal power from the west. In other words anyone hoping this incident means coal has much of a future is simply grasping at straws. As more infrastructure for cleaner power is built coal will be totally eliminated in the east.

I agree, that will likely be the result of this- although I'm not a huge fan of hydro it is better than the alternative. Also, base load demand growth is very little in the region. Increases in energy efficiency is the other big factor.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by jody_wy

plants here take the mercury out, along with everything else , fly ash goes back into reclamation of the mine, only thing going out those stacks are CO2 and steam

Coal-Fired Dry Fork Station Unit 1 | Sargent & Lundy
zero emission power plant

Iowa is now powered by nearly 50% wind energy with percentages continuing to increase with very little coal power compared to the rest of the Midwest. Coal will continue to lose market share because it cannot compete in the marketplace with renewable sources that continue to rapidly decrease in cost and lower cost natural gas. No one wants to live next to coal plant. Try living in the Ohio Valley with all the dinosaur coal plants everywhere. It is disgusting, contamination everywhere.

[jody_wy]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Iowa is now powered by nearly 50% wind energy with percentages continuing to increase with very little coal power compared to the rest of the Midwest. Coal will continue to lose market share because it cannot compete in the marketplace with renewable sources that continue to rapidly decrease in cost and lower cost natural gas. No one wants to live next to coal plant. Try living in the Ohio Valley with all the dinosaur coal plants everywhere. It is disgusting, contamination everywhere.

so what carry's the load when the wind doesn't blow, or blowing too fast?

[Ltdumbear]

It's really not complicated. Wanna help 'heal' this planet AND conserve/stretch resources at the same time ?

STOP BREEDING LIKE RABBITS !

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by jody_wy

plants here take the mercury out, along with everything else , fly ash goes back into reclamation of the mine, only thing going out those stacks are CO2 and steam

Coal-Fired Dry Fork Station Unit 1 | Sargent & Lundy
zero emission power plant

Zero emissions is referring strictly to liquids (water). It still emits mercury into the atmosphere and was fought on those grounds by various groups. If the coal industry was so clean it wouldn't have fought the mercury emissions standards the Obama admin put in place (which Trump has lifted allowing them to continue pumping mercury into our air).