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We still use it, us, in America; we use it by the train load. There is a power plant that serves Tampa St Pete, that uses coal: it has a tipple, and it has front end loaders, and trucks. In other words it is the usual power plant, because most of them in America use coal.
I have seen coal trains with hundreds of cars, passing through Huntington West Virginia. About 15 years ago, a company built an enormous tipple outside of Huntington. Any notions that coal is on its way out in America, is quite mistaken.
Overlook me if I sound preachy, but I don't think that most people comprehend power generation, and the fuel that is used.
Only about 30 percent of our electricity comes from coal. In some states none of it does.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DCforever
Coal jobs were never good jobs.
I would never want to spend even an hour working in a coal mine, but for those brave enough to accept the risk, $25-30/hour is not bad pay for work that requires no education or special skills, and the coal mining industry also has scientists, engineers and equipment technicians making a lot more than that.
Yet they are importing Coal from Australia. It looks like a scam to benefit Private party. Close down State owned Coal India mines because coal is cheaper and import costly coal from Australia.
Coal may not be on its way out, but the human workforce for coal is and continues to be diminished. Many people don't understand (accept) the high tech nature of mining and other industries...
Just heard an interview with the author earlier today: The End of Loyalty: The Rise and Fall of Good Jobs in America by Rick Wartzman in which the issue was briefly discussed.
Coal mining has been high tech for a long time now, there are "long wall" machines that carve it out, like there is no tomorrow. I am not going to say that I know very much about the machines, but they can do the work of 100 men, and do it better.
In the old days the miners carped about the job, and the filth down there, and it was a valid complaint. I recall when "Black Lung" was a war cry, and a rally slogan for miners. In a twisted sense, they have gotten what they asked for: there are no perfect answers in life, so be careful what you wish for.
The machines do it now: with no regard for cleanliness, or time off, or anything else: and Black Lung is not a concern with them. There is no loyalty in the business world, it is cut throat; but any cure that might be attempted is worse than the disease. I think that has been lost on most Americans, who do not comprehend business means and measures.
I uploaded some pics of Long Waller's. The machines are daunting, with the ability to extract coal, and to keep going indefinitely.
These Cat trucks are awesome, they are used at big mines to ferry coal. PS: to anyone that is interested, CAT has a market cap of $67,000,000,000. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CAT?p=CAT
Last edited by Big Motor; 07-26-2017 at 01:51 PM..
Only about 30 percent of our electricity comes from coal. In some states none of it does.
In Tampa, a whole lot of electricity comes from coal; I have been to a big power plant, and it was using coal. This pic is the Big Bend Power Plant, in Hillsborough County, and it is the one that I mean.
Those plumes from the stacks, are steam, and that is the method of power generation. Steam powers turbines, which in turn generate electricity. I have seen plants like this scattered across the country, and there is one near Charleston West Virginia. People commonly mistake the water vapor, as being smoke, and it is not.
Things are well in hand, and America knows how to make power. There is propaganda that says we are destroying the Earth, and we are not. Who in their right mind wants to destroy the home that they live in?
This source says that 30% of power comes from coal, and it is a .gov site, so they must be right. Which means that you are right, because that was the figure that you used. https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
. There is propaganda that says we are destroying the Earth, and we are not. Who in their right mind wants to destroy the home that they live in?
It's been a century since anyone clear cut forests and 60 yrs since the Cuyahoga River started on fire. In days past, people were literally unaware that resources could be depleted or destoyed. We're more sophisticated now.
Some basic regulations on pollution and conservation should be in place (do we really need a LAW that says "Thou shalt not kill"?) but the EPA long ago passed the point of diminishing returns. Now they're just power grabbing. It's all about control, not about protecting us or the environment.
It's been a century since anyone clear cut forests and 60 yrs since the Cuyahoga River started on fire. In days past, people were literally unaware that resources could be depleted or destoyed. We're more sophisticated now.
Some basic regulations on pollution and conservation should be in place (do we really need a LAW that says "Thou shalt not kill"?) but the EPA long ago passed the point of diminishing returns. Now they're just power grabbing. It's all about control, not about protecting us or the environment.
Many haven't learned to care for the environment.
All organizations make mistakes, including the EPA. The threat of climate change is founded in rigorous science. Over time we will refine our models. There is some chance that things are not a grave as we currently think, but if we are going to be wrong we damn sure want to be wrong on the side of keeping CO2 lower than need rather than higher than needed.
All organizations make mistakes, including the EPA. The threat of climate change is founded in rigorous science. Over time we will refine our models. There is some chance that things are not a grave as we currently think, but if we are going to be wrong we damn sure want to be wrong on the side of keeping CO2 lower than need rather than higher than needed.
Is reducing CO2 emissions from the electricity sector by 20-30% enough to prevent global warming, or do we need more aggressive reductions in CO2?
It's been a century since anyone clear cut forests and 60 yrs since the Cuyahoga River started on fire. In days past, people were literally unaware that resources could be depleted or destoyed. We're more sophisticated now.
Some basic regulations on pollution and conservation should be in place (do we really need a LAW that says "Thou shalt not kill"?) but the EPA long ago passed the point of diminishing returns. Now they're just power grabbing. It's all about control, not about protecting us or the environment.
Simply not true here in the west.
Clearcutting is still a thing here, especially on private land. Although it's true that the clearcuts are smaller and better managed than they were 40 years ago. Most of the unprotected old growth is now gone.
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