Anti-Coal Trend and Some Reasons Why

[rgp]

So maybe we can't cover ALL power needs with wind and solar today - that doesn't negate our desperate need to move away from fossil fuels as much and as quickly as possible.

Extreme weather, rising seas and climate migration by humans and other species have only just begun.

So long as the two most polluting and [perhaps] most energy consuming [China & India] continue to do as they do, we the {US} will make but a dent in the so-called crisis. {IMO}

I agree, we all could improve ..... but this rush to say electric cars is just folks not thinking straight. Also IMO modern investors hoping for a huge return on their investments [quickly] so they can retire @ 30.

When transportation changed from horses to automobiles , there was no talk of the government opening gas stations. It was the [for-sure] coming trend & need that many of the wealthier invested in, and the oil companies opened the gas stations . Why is now though that we keep hearing about charging stations becoming part of our infrastructure , and that they should be supported by the government ?

Again opinion but, I believe some of it just one group of people , one part of our population steering things their way, and away from the old way because they want their profit now. They do not want to wait for us to die off.

It could be said, and I'll say it that .... I really don't have a dog in this hunt because, I'm 75, and will likely die within the next 25 years. And i don't think we can screw things up that much more in that time. Also, I have no kids g/kids to worry about what world we leave behind . Maybe that is the selfish view ? but we were put on this planet by someone/something, for whatever reason, and i believe we rightfully use this planet to have the best life we can for ourselves . We dealt with the [sins-of-our-fathers] so IMO let the young coming behind us do the same.

Do I purposely pollute & over consume ? No, but I am not going to buy an over-priced / poor range vehicle and burn the couch for heat either.

 

[Debrah N.]

So maybe we can't cover ALL power needs with wind and solar today - that doesn't negate our desperate need to move away from fossil fuels as much and as quickly as possible.

Extreme weather, rising seas and climate migration by humans and other species have only just begun.

Exactly right and what I don't understand is why in those regions that are afraid of having a shortage of power if they begin turning to renewable alternatives, why they can't look at the gas powered electricity as a backup to the renewables. Nobody every seems to think that way. It's like it has to be all or nothing!

And then ramp up other improvements and education to protect the environment, like really promoting EV's of all types, changes in eating habits to have a lower carbon footprint, massively improved home building regulations that require triple glazed windows, R60 insulation as the minimum in attics, etc.

We put in new triple glazed windows last year and the year before that we tripled our insulation and it's amazing how much warmer the house is in winter and that it stays way cooler in summer.

 

[Debrah N.]

I certainly get the point, but this struck me as funny. From Kindergarten we just walked to and from school ourselves after being shown the route. Admittedly, it was only maybe 3/4 mile but there were two busy streets involved.

Are kids just dumber or more fragile now, or are parents getting nuttier?

Of course this wasn't L.A., or Beirut, or something. I suppose I should consider that.

Parents are more concerned about their kids disappearing. When I had my babies in 1980, I watched them like a hawk and the oldest didn't get to walk the two blocks up to the corner store by herself, until she was about 8. And since then, we've become painfully aware of child trafficking and children being sexually exploited around the world so parents just guard their children more than our parents guarded us.

I remember playing outside with the neighbourhood kids until the street lights came on and parents didn't micromanage our whereabouts because those weren't things they had to worry about so much.