Coal is a past solution that worked in its time, but it is not the solution anymore.
Updated: 2 minutes agoThe Port MacKenzie Rail Extension leads to Port MacKenzie in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough on Sunday, March 14, 2021.
My main question is: Why would we invest in a big way in coal now? We now know that coal is a major greenhouse gas polluter and has contributed greatly to the planet’s high CO2 levels, a cause of climate change. Coal is a fossil fuel, carbon-rich, and difficult to produce power from in a clean way. The UAF report cites only two working examples of clean coal combustion plants: the UAF plant and Wyoming Dry Forks plant.
Alaska should mobilize a full-scale effort to maximize hydroelectric power resources in the Railbelt. We have great hydroelectric power options. There are existing and potential hydro power sites in the Railbelt. I realize there is controversy over salmon habitat and historic fisheries use in some cases, but in my opinion, these can be mitigated and maybe even improved on. We need to prioritize the need for clean energy quickly. Time is running out.
We need to change the “business-as-usual” paradigm from fossil fuels to truly clean energy such as renewables. We should channel the billions of dollars a clean coal project as proposed by UAF would cost towards developing clean energy like hydroelectric, wind, and other sources.
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