I haven’t been doing a lot of writing lately but I have been doing quite a bit of thinking and this post is to kind of catch the writing up with my thoughts.

One thing I have been thinking about is the deal just recently made with the Hobet 21 expansion to be known as Hobet 22. As soon as the permit was halted by Judge Chambers everybody high up in the coal industry got their feathers all ruffled up and started talking about layoffs and rallies and oh my God what are we going to do? Even our esteemed albeit worthless Governor had to put in his two cents. All for three years worth of work.

If you want to know the state of our economic affairs, all of the madness and threats generated by the halting of an accused illegal permit - for three years worth of work. What are they going to do in three years? Can you say sustainable economic growth? The coal industry likes to say we have 200 to 250 years of coal reserves. Nothing to worry about. I’m not here to argue that because I can’t prove it one way or another but I can say this with certainty - the Edwight surface mine doesn’t have that much. Neither does Blue Pennant or Progress surface mines. Those mines are going to play out much much sooner - in less time than a miner needs to retire. Or in the case of Hobet 22, in three years. So basically the mountain will be gone and the jobs, both never to return. Then what?

Another thing I’ve been thinking about is the Coal River Wind Project. I support CRMW’s effort on that project 150%. I’d love to see windmills on our mountains. I hear a lot of debate about wind turbines and birds. I hear even more debate about MTR and the environment. When you have two means to achieve the same goal, isn’t it normally common practice to utilize the lesser of two evils? Maybe it is still unclear which is the lesser of the two evils.

A reminder -

This…

and this…

OR

these.

Seems like a no-brainer to me but what the hell do I know.

Last but not least… I’ve been seeing a commercial a lot lately from Consol Energy. Consol is another coal producer and in their commercial they brag about their coal being America’s on switch for 145 years. I think as a society their commercial speaks volumes for how far we have evolved.

Long ago the caveman learned how to burn wood for heat (energy). Today we burn a fossil, coal, for energy (heat). I think we have done a great job in making life easier with a variety of nifty gadgets to help me just sit my ass on the couch. Unfortunately, I think we have come up way short in the energy department. Even in the transportation sector, we have cars that can phone home but most of them can’t leave home without burning a fossil fuel.

I’d love to be alive when we move beyond fossil fuel. Computers that used to fill an entire room can now fit in the palm of your hand. Imagine what we could do if we devoted the same resources and dedication to developing an alternative renewable energy source. If we are to evolve as a society, stopping the use of fossil fuels as an energy source is a bridge that we will have to cross either by choice or by necessity. Either way, it is inevitable. Makes me wonder why we spend billions promoting and or trying to clean up coal, a non-renewable energy source.