Mountain Monday: 10 Years of Coal

Welcome to Mountain Monday, spreading the word about mountaintop removal, and celebrating the best Appalachia has to offer.

Take a look at the region carrying the heaviest load for American coal production, and you’ll see that we are definitively beyond “peak coal” in Appalachia. The US Geological Survey, and other crazy assorted “experts” on “science” have been telling Appalachia that our coal has a what-we-call a “finite” production span. In fact, the USGS has estimated that we have around roughly 10 years of high-quality thick coal seams left.

“Sufficient high-quality, thick, bituminous resources remain in [Appalachian Basin] coal beds and coal zones to last for the next one to two decades at current production.”

– United States Geological Survey (USGS), 2000 AD

But now, thanks to citizen activists, the blogosphere, and environmentally conscious Americans throughout the land, there is now a much more powerful thing than “science” telling us that we have no choice but to get off coal in the next decade.

Thats right! Mr. Al Gore himself has thrown down the gauntlet to America, telling us that we have just 10 years left of coal, before our energy infrastructure is entirely rebuilt from renewable sources.

A few years ago, it would not have been possible to issue such a challenge. But here’s what’s changed: the sharp cost reductions now beginning to take place in solar, wind, and geothermal power – coupled with the recent dramatic price increases for oil and coal – have radically changed the economics of energy.

…

To those who say the costs are still too high: I ask them to consider whether the costs of oil and coal will ever stop increasing if we keep relying on quickly depleting energy sources to feed a rapidly growing demand all around the world. When demand for oil and coal increases, their price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down.

And with the price of a ton of Appalachian coal at more than $135/ton (up from a low of $40 just a year ago), its about time we start looking towards a way to create energy at a way that preserves our mountains, puts the Appalachian people to work, and remains cost competitive, we need to start looking at projects like the “Coal River Mountain Wind” project in West Virginia. (Also, congrats to Texas for approving a new $5 billion wind-energy project!) The change is coming!

Also, as an Appalachian citizen, I would especially like to second, and thank Mr. Gore for the following sentiment:

America’s transition to renewable energy sources must also include adequate provisions to assist those Americans who would unfairly face hardship. For example, we must recognize those who have toiled in dangerous conditions to bring us our present energy supply. We should guarantee good jobs in the fresh air and sunshine for any coal miner displaced by impacts on the coal industry. Every single one of them.

Esteemed scientists, distinguished (if a tad-casually-dressed) citizen bloggers, Mr. Vice President; welcome to Mountain Mondays.

With the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169) co-sponsor count at 147 and growing, follow us to the flip for this weeks…

1. Featured Blogs for July 15-21th

Rich Treves over at the Google Blog gives high marks and critiques the innovative “Appalachian Mountaintop Removal layer” in Google Earth:

This project is an excellent use of Google Earth for two main reasons: the 3D topography is a key part of the story and the problem of mountain top removal is difficult to explain because before Google Earth it was very difficult to see the scale of the problem.

The Sierra Club has a great article about the Coal River Mountain Wind project over at TreeHugger:

In Scarbro’s case, Marfork Coal Company, a subsidiary of Massey Energy, has applied for four permits (two have been approved) to mine 6,600 acres of Coal River Mountain, including land bordering Scarbro’s. The permits would also allow for the construction of at least 19 valley fills, which means mining waste would be desposited in nearly every headwater stream originating from the mountain.

Scarbro and a coalition of environmental and community organizations aren’t taking this news from Massey lying down. Coal River Mountain Watch (CRMW) and these groups have an alternative they say the state coal association claims coal opponents never have: The Coal River Wind Project.

Erin Shaw over at RealitySandwhich also gives us her thoughts on the wind project.

Another human story at EndMTR Denny gives us a missive and interesting photoblog on Larry Gibson:

If you could ever lay out one piece of ground and call it the front line in the battle against mountaintop removal, Kayford Mountain would be it. Larry Gibson and a host of friends on one side, Massey Energy on the other. For Larry, the front lines have been moving closer for nearly twenty years.

On the candidate front, some Virginians would like to dis-nominate coal-lovin Tim Kaine from consideration for Obama’s VP. Kaine, as many of you know, backed a dangerous, expensive, and unneccesary coal-fired power plant in Wise County, VA.

Taylor over at BluegrassRoots says that Democratic Governor Steve Beshear “Must be Confused” for saying:

‘mountaintop removal can be done environmentally under existing regulation

2) Mountaintop Removal Fact of the Week

“Sufficient high-quality, thick, bituminous resources remain in [Appalachian Basin] coal beds and coal zones to last for the next one to two decades at current production.”

– United States Geological Survey (USGS), 2000 AD

AND…

The price of coal from Central Appalachia (which is where most mountaintop removal takes place) has risen from a low of $40 last year, to more than $135 currently.

3) Mountain Movie/Image of the Week:
Vice-President Gore speaks about mountaintop removal at “Netroots Nation.” (thanks WVBlueGuy, who was able to ask this question!)

4) Featured Activist:
David Beaty, Fentress County, TN

Mr. Beaty, a former County Executive for Fentress County, has made countless trips to Washington, DC to fight the practice of mountaintop removal in Tennessee. This week he and several other Americans who live in communities affected by mountaintop removal came to DC to advocate for the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2169) on behalf of “The Alliance for Appalachia.” Since they have begun making these trips last month, Clean Water Protection Act advocates have gained an additional eight co-sponsors, including a Republican (Dave Reichert from Washington state,) in their fight to stop mountaintop removal.

5) Mountain Music of the Week:
Long considered some of the most groundbreaking song-writers and pioneers in the emerging alt-country mountain music scene, here are the inimitable Avett Brothers with “Will you Come Again.”

Thats it for this week!
peace,
JW

About JW Randolph

Raised on the banks of the Tennessee River, JW's work to create progress in his home state and throughout Appalachia has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show, The Daily Kos and Grist. He served first as Appalachian Voices’ Legislative Associate and then Tennessee director until leaving to pursue a career in medicine in 2012.