In recent years there's been a lot of stuff, most of it nasty, written bout the earth's second most abundant source of energy.
It's no stretch of the imagination that more than a few see it as a nasty-burning, hydrocarbon-producing four lettered word, coal. As the article linked below points out, much energy has gone into putting the dirty-burning stuff out to energy pasture once and for all to be seen, smelled and breathed no more.
Not however with much success. "Coal generates about 40 percent of the world’s electricity and is poised to dethrone crude oil as the largest energy source by 2020." Not only is coal abundant, it's cheap, "cheaper than other energy sources because it’s accessible, easy to transport and simple to store."
Beyond that the black tarry stuff has a humanitarian history to it most of the warming climate crowd choose to ignore. In this age of rich versus poor, haves against have-nots: "The power and warmth it generates has helped lift millions out of poverty and misery in China, India and other emerging nations." How many climate-warming freaks can claim that?
How much coal is there? Well, according to some based on 2012 production, there's enough to keep global skies cloudy and gray for about another 130 years. By some estimates China consumes as much coal as those bad boys and girls in the US consume oil. What oil does for the United States coal does for China, "nourishing economic growth and choking cities."
The future of coal as an energy source is uncertain. The climate change crowd is larded with if-we-don't-want-it-you-can't-have-it either people. Yet as the recent Ukraine situation and Japan's horrific earthquake reminded, abundant cheap energy is hardly a given. Coal in many quarters has been getting a second look.
The chunky black stuff has been down for a long time, but it's still a long way from being out. We'll know more come the next frigid winter, something those climate-warming worry warts should openly embrace.
http://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/confronting-coal/
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