The social harm caused by coal is enormous.
Of course there is the obvious horror of mountaintop removal. I once led a discussion with coalfield residents in which we brainstormed about 100 of its horrible effects, ranging from the disappearance of wildlife to the boulders that were crashing in nearby homes.
Back on January 26th, I published a post about a noxious blue haze that enveloped the Kanawha Valley. It was later determined that the miasma came from the John Amos coal fired power plant. Faced with public pressure, the meek WV Department of Environmental Protection issued a warning to John Amos. If there was one single person who thought this warning would be heeded by the utility giant (which literally gets away with murder), the recent return of the purple plume should expell his or her doubts. Continue reading
