You'll have your coal plant, and like it!

By Mark Forsythe The Kansas City Post Governor Sebelius has demanded an apology from the group Kansans For Affordable Energy for taking out full-page ads in major newspapers equating opposition of coal-burning power plants to supporters of Iran, Venezuela and Russia. While I agree this ad was ridiculous, I think the governor is going to have a long wait for that apology. Keep in mind this is a group that thinks risking people's lives to dig rocks out of the ground so they can be set on fire to boil water and generate electricity is a really good idea. When you're dealing with that kind of logic the concept of doing what's right may be beyond their grasp. Supporters of the coal-burning plants, and subsequently recipients of huge amounts of campaign contributions from the coal lobby, argue that economic development has been stifled in western Kansas. Perhaps. But what kind of economic development? Is a coal-burning power plant really the type of economic development a community should desire? Perhaps coal plant proponents should remember the old adage that necessity is the mother of invention. Yes, setting rocks on fire is the cheap and easy way, but Kansas has told you to find a safer, cleaner method. The pessimist packs up and goes home, taking out a full-page attack ad on the way. The optimist sees opportunity. There must be a way. New technology. New industry. New jobs that don't require risking your life for a paycheck. Pacific Gas & Energy (PG&E) has signed a long-expected solar power deal with Silicon Valley startup Ausra, agreeing to buy 177 megawatts of green electricity generated by a solar thermal plant to be built by the company on California's central coast, called the Carrizo Solar Energy Farm. Ausra claims that its Compact Fresnel Linear Reflector system -- long flat mirrors that focus the sun's rays on water-filled tubes to create steam that drives electricity-generating turbines -- will produce power at costs competitive with natural gas-fired plants. The Carrizo solar farm will be a boon for the San Luis Obispo County economy, employing 350 workers during construction and creating 100 permanent jobs, according to Ausra. [source Green Wombat] By using new technology, the state of California is creating jobs, generating electricity and protecting the environment. As for coal and natural gas? I'm sure once upon a time there was a powerful lobby centered around the production and installation of asbestos. There were probably some very persuasive arguments as to why that industry needed to be protected. It provided jobs, provided cheap insulation for efficiency and even protected children with flame-resistant pajamas! Change is difficult and huge industries are loathe to admit that time may be passing them by, but perhaps the coal and natural gas proponents should consider investing in the future and distancing themselves from the past.