Coal Expert: U.S. Supplies Dwindling Fast
Monday, November 3, 2008
Missoula, MT – How quickly 250 years dwindles away to just 30 or so. The common claim that the U.S. has enough coal to last 250 years no longer pans out, according to coal industry expert Richard Heinberg with the Post Carbon Institute.
He shared the latest in coal industry research in Montana during a weekend conference, which included several recent studies showing coal supplies tapering off within 30 years. And, he said, the much-talked about "clean coal technology" won't be ready for at least 20 years.
He calls the recent push for more coal-fired power plants and liquid-coal facilities a possible "investment scam" that could leave the public holding the bag when the coal runs out faster than anyone expected.
"It's a bad economic decision to make ourselves more dependent on a fossil fuel that is becoming more scarce with every passing day."
Heinberg claims the best energy investment for Montana would be in energy sources with a steady, long-term supply, such as wind, solar and biofuels.
"Ultimately, we have to transition to sources of energy that are not depleting."
Proponents of "clean" coal and liquid-coal say new technologies are available that make them less polluting, and that they're needed to meet energy demand, which those proponents say cannot be met by renewables.
Heinberg spoke at the Alternative Energy Resources Organization annual meeting in Missoula.
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