An important article on The Earth Blog considers the possibility of capturing the combined carbon emissions from coal generation, oil burning and natural gas combustion; how things would have to change to allow this to happen and, if it could happen whether it would actually be a good thing.

It wasn’t too long ago that I was busily writing about the folly of Carbon Capture and Storage as a supposed solution to the release of huge, totally unsustainable amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Back then my main objections were (a) that we had no idea whether it was feasible or safe and (b) coal mining would continue to carry on its destructive activities. I stand by both of those points. But things have changed in two dramatic ways, which make a reopening of this issue imperative.

First, support for CCS has gone beyond politicians and businesses, and beyond the conservative “light green” writers who are relying on businesses and politicians to make things better for all of us (ha!) Eminent writers and scientists, like Jim Hansen, who I have a great deal of respect for as a scientist are saying that coal fired power stations should not be built at all unless they have CCS built in. This is from Hansen’s recent letter to British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown:

A firm choice to halt building of coal-fired power plants that do not capture the CO2 would be a major step toward a solution of the global warming problem. Germany has strong interest in solving the climate problem. Citizens in the United States are stepping up to block one coal plant after another, and the next national election is less than a year away.

If Great Britain and Germany halted construction of coal-fired power plants that do not capture and sequester the CO2, it could be a tipping point for the world. There is still time to find that tipping point, but just barely. I hope that you will give these considerations your attention in setting your national policies. You have the potential to influence the future of the planet.

Now, on the surface this would seem to be a reasonable request, and certainly would prevent the release of a lot of carbon dioxide. In addition, if CCS becomes mandatory on all coal-fired power stations, the electricity generators will weigh up the costs and start to invest in other forms of generation, rather than put all their investment in coal. This is a good thing…if you are only interested in the short term. But there are two huge logical flaws in this thinking: what about all the other carbon dioxide, and what about all the existing coal plant?

The conclusions may be controversial in this age of environmental hope, and technological miracles, but when you consider the reality of where industry is trying to lead us you realise that what makes it controversial is simply that most people don’t want to hear the truth.

Read the whole article at http://earth-blog.bravejournal.com/entry/26948…