Is it a good practice to solve a problem by adapting a solution that will create more problems??
"We have to do something about the energy crisis." How often have we heard this? We know this and we know that we must look for other sources of energy. Yet, we also know that we do not solve one problem by creating other problems. The coal industry is already a problem on many levels from the individual to the global. With the recent collapse of the mine in Utah more public attention is being given to the entire industry. Click here to read more about coal mining and its effects. You may also want to read more about The U.S. Senate recently defeated two amendments to give billions of dollars in subsidies for synthetic fuel projects such as liquid-to-coal. As we study energy alternatives, it is critical to look at the long-term sustainability of our decisions for particular types of energy. Coal-to-liquid plants do not include much in regard to sustainability. Critics of the coal-to-liquid plants also state that the process produces diesel and jet fuel NOT gasoline for motorists; the process creates twice as much carbon dioxide as creating fuel from petroleum; the technology to capture and store carbon is decades away; processing one ton of coal produces two barrels of liquid fuel; and the making of liquid fuel from coal will consume 4-7 barrels of fresh water for each barrel of fuel produced. Senate testimony containing more information can be found at http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/BartisTestimony.pdf