Wind Energy Vs. Coal-Fired Power Plants

A reader notes: If I were advising clean energy lobbies, I’d tell them to ignore coal discussions, and just kick butt in the marketplace. As it is now however, Obama’s statements about putting coal out of business just sets up a straw-man to fight.

It’s true that complaining about coal comes across as whining, but I can see both sides of the coin. My new book is largely about “kicking butt in the marketplace,” but it’s extremely important that people become aware of the incredible level of damage that coal plants cause. The Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal” campaign has been a powerful force in this direction, but there’s a great deal more work to be done. Did you know that (though this is a complicated issue that brings about many “apples-to-oranges” comparisons) coal plants kill FAR more birds that wind turbines?