The War On Coal
I enjoy the benefits of clean air living in South Florida. I also enjoy the benefits of clean water. Judging by the growth in population in Florida and impact of tourism to help pay the bills, our good environment is important.
I attended West Virginia University to get a graduate degree in public administration in 1975. The mostly rural state has many small towns that were populated by folks that worked as coal miners. In 1975 there were issues about acid rain which was a byproduct burning coal in power plants. There were also issues between two different types of mining. Underground mining meant digging holes into mountains and surface mining that morphed into mountaintop removal and then digging out the coal with heavy equipment followed by "reclamation".
Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas all add greenhouse gases which have lead to higher temperatures, droughts and stronger storms and rising sea levels. Acid rain hurts forests and affects fish that live in lakes and streams. And while it seems that the burning of coal to produce electricity can be made cleaner, the cost is great and there are still health effects which are related to air pollution and the mining of coal. Coal mining can be a very and is a dangerous job because of accidents and long term health issues like "black lung".
Places like McDowell County WV and throughout Appalachia used to have jobs in the mining industry. Now natural gas produced by fracking is cheaper and cleaner than coal. The War on Coal is over. The market for coal has shrunk not only in the United States but worldwide.
Places in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wyoming that were and are dependent on coal related jobs need to work on new economic development plans. Unfortunately, the economic development plan seems to be relocation. New jobs, new industries, a younger and better educated workforce can work in places that are growing but it is difficult when people leave and the ones left are those that need the most help.
Rural poverty can be a tough nut to crack.
I attended West Virginia University to get a graduate degree in public administration in 1975. The mostly rural state has many small towns that were populated by folks that worked as coal miners. In 1975 there were issues about acid rain which was a byproduct burning coal in power plants. There were also issues between two different types of mining. Underground mining meant digging holes into mountains and surface mining that morphed into mountaintop removal and then digging out the coal with heavy equipment followed by "reclamation".
Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas all add greenhouse gases which have lead to higher temperatures, droughts and stronger storms and rising sea levels. Acid rain hurts forests and affects fish that live in lakes and streams. And while it seems that the burning of coal to produce electricity can be made cleaner, the cost is great and there are still health effects which are related to air pollution and the mining of coal. Coal mining can be a very and is a dangerous job because of accidents and long term health issues like "black lung".
Places like McDowell County WV and throughout Appalachia used to have jobs in the mining industry. Now natural gas produced by fracking is cheaper and cleaner than coal. The War on Coal is over. The market for coal has shrunk not only in the United States but worldwide.
Places in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wyoming that were and are dependent on coal related jobs need to work on new economic development plans. Unfortunately, the economic development plan seems to be relocation. New jobs, new industries, a younger and better educated workforce can work in places that are growing but it is difficult when people leave and the ones left are those that need the most help.
Rural poverty can be a tough nut to crack.
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