AND damn those who couldn’t care less for the protection of our environment and people.
If Senator Cynthia Villar believes that the coal can be turned into a clean energy with the use of modern or improved technology, she is either misinformed or doesn’t believe in clean and renewable energy.
It is solidly established and accepted in both science and non-science communities that coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. Energy companies burn it like hell so the steam can turn turbine and generates electricity.
Coal fired plants pump out tons of pollution - not just carbon emissions. In addition to carbon dioxide, coal-fired power plants emit hosts of noxious pollutants.
In addition to atmospheric pollution, coal burning produces hundreds of millions of tons of solid waste products annually, including fly ash, bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurization sludge that contain mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. There are severe health effects caused by burning coal.
As to the argument that coal can be burned cleanly, well that’s is all hot air. To date there is no such thing as clean coal. All coal burning technologies can’t escape with the coal inherent destructiveness, and no energy capitalist corporation would spend millions or billions to develop such, if ever there is one in this planet.
Coal is not renewable. It depletes our natural resources. Like petroleum and natural gas, coal take thousands of years to form naturally and cannot be replaced as fast they are being consumed.
Concerning position that coal is cheaper and easy to maintain than renewable energy is true from corporate capitalist perspective because after all they are interested only in spending less regardless at whose expense.
Coal is a big business. Coal companies and coal-fired power plants rake super profit from it at the least expense possible.
From consumers’ standpoint, especially the less informed about renewable energy and climate crisis, they wouldn’t care so long as they pay less for the electricity charges. But for those who care for this unique planet in our galaxy, we certainly care for what we use and pay, and for the next generations that will come after us.
Those who support the proposed 300 megawatt of coal-fired power plant in San Carlos, and all others who were instrumental in the establishment of the same in other parts of the country are nothing but instruments of pure convenience and accomplice of a huge structure of greed and destruction.
For this, I personally urge the people, with the people of San Carlos City in particular, that come election day on Monday, reject candidates from senator down local bets who support coal and other destructive energy systems.
Let us not allow these damn prophet of doom to rule and dictate our lives and destroy our planet faster than it already is.
To the good vice governor Bong Lacson, who will soon be the father and guardian of the province, make up your heart, reaffirm your stand for renewable energy. I know you can always mend relations and friendships with those few who might be affected by your stand, but the greatest number of people will surely benefit greatly from having a strong stand for environment.
I know this is not an easy advocacy, but this is much better and soul-filled than those who cannot find a cause to die for because they have no reason for being in the first place.