Coal plant pollution is responsible for a long and growing list of illness and disease, including premature death.  The multi-billion dollar annual health cost, paid for by the public in medical expenses and insurance premiums,  is not counted when coal generated electricity is called “cheap”.  Coal is also responsible for massive environmental damage – mercury in fish, destroying mountains and valleys in southern Appalachia, and poisoning vast areas of groundwater.  None of these costs are counted in the price of this “cheap” resource.  Coal plants are responsible for 40% of U.S. CO2 emissions and the rush to build new plants will generate more new CO2 than all current U.S. CO2 reduction efforts hope to eliminate.  This “coal rush” is the current policy designed to meet the ever-increasing demand of electricity in America.  However, science has demonstrated that investing the same capital assets in saving energy, energy that is now wasted by leaky buildings, inefficient appliances, etc. would be a cheaper, cleaner, and faster way to meet the increase in demand over the next decade.  These efficiency measures have none of the negative baggage of coal, make a profit for consumers, and create more jobs and economic benefits than a coal plant.  The reason we are not aggressively pursuing “The Efficiency Alternative” is that the energy establishment makes more money when more electricity is used, saving energy doesn’t make them money.  These companies have enormous influence on the political process.  Renewables, like wind and thermal solar have virtually none of the negatives.  Wind power generation is already cost competitive with building new coal plants.  Thermal solar power will be competitive when a price is placed on carbon emissions.

• It is dirty and harmful
• It costs too much
• A Huge and Influential Political Machine is Promoting Coal and Receiving Massive Subsidies
• There are better solutions