"The war on coal is over." -- Vice President Mike Pence
"We will cancel job killing regulations." -- Donald Trump
Clean coal is an oxymoron. -- Pug Mahoney
There is no such thing as "clean coal." The term contradicts itself, just like the terms dry water, hot ice, or for many veterans, Army intelligence.
The problem with overturning rules dealing with pollution is that it benefits owners rather than miners. For many decades, homes throughout America have abandoned coal as a heating source in favor of oil or gas. And for cities and industries, another method is wind or solar power.
Coal long ago fell out of favor as an energy source, largely for economic reasons. It was too expensive to dig up, transport and store, and the equipment used to burn it for its energy was too inefficient. Add to that the cost of pollution control and you have several reasons for its decline.
In an attempt to regain some small margin of market share, the industry came up with the concept of "clean coal." Except that without very expensive equipment to trap and dispose of the pollutants generated by the massive furnaces, coal remains a very dirty energy source.
Major cities such as London were notorious for the deadly effects of the carbon-filled clouds that blanketed the city as a result of home heating furnaces and fireplaces using coal.
After coal was replaced by other heating sources, the air over the city became breathable again, and healthy citizens applauded.
So the politicians in Washington may promise many things with fancy phrases, but the reality is that economic and social pressures far outweigh their oratory.
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