Liquid Coal is a Bad Deal for Global Warming (Sierra Club petition to Congress)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

(courtesy of Omaha Steve who posted this in another forum but this is such a vital issue we need to get the word out as much as possible!)

Although its proponents claim that liquid coal is a cure-all to our nation's energy problems, the truth is that liquid coal is plagued with economical and environmental downsides from the time coal is mined until long after the liquid is burned.

Liquid coal releases almost double the global warming emissions per gallon as regular gasoline, making a hybrid filled with liquid coal as dirty as a Hummer H3 running on regular gas.

Liquid coal also requires huge amounts of water, and would lead to an over 40% increase in coal mining just to replace a mere 10% of our nation's transportation fuels. Proponents of liquid coal also want the government to funnel billions in subsidies and tax breaks to artificially create an entirely new industry. Liquid coal is arguably the dirtiest, most expensive energy gamble we could take.

Liquid Coal is a Bad Deal for Global Warming - Tell Congress to find clean solutions to our energy needs!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724230939?z00m=9447423

[draft_mario_cuomo]

1. I am glad John Edwards has taken a strong stand against liquid coal

He is alone among the top-tier in taking that position. Obama, in fact, sponsored a bill to promote liquefied coal.

[FogerRox]

2. Coal production is slated to peak in 40 years, so its certainly not a real solution to peak oil

In fact, IMHO liquids fuels are not the solution period. Solar & wind, then fusion. Anytime you burn a liquid fuel, you are filling the air with bad stuff.

[jillan]

3. I'm taking this from one of your threads for 7/30

you posted a comparison of the candidates:

NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL

Biden: Opposes investment in liquid coal
Clinton: Supports investing in liquid coal if it reduces carbon pollution by 20%
Dodd: New coal plants must capture and store carbon emissions
Edwards: Supports ban on new coal plants unless they capture and store carbon emissions
Gravel: New coal plants must capture and store carbon emissions
Kucinich: No articulated position
Obama: Supports investing in liquid coal if it reduces carbon pollution by 20%
Richardson: Opposes liquid coal. Supports ban on new coal plants unless they capture and store emissions

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4RNWN_enUS233US233&q=biden+on+lliquid+coal

Biden / Richardson - Hell no
Edwards - No
Everyone else - yes with restrictions
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I actually googled Biden's plan on this, and your thread came up first:)