COAL

Coal - A Reliable Energy Solution

Prince Charles of England just christened the first coal-burning locomotive in 55 years. New designs allow for efficient and non-polluting locomotives and power generation. Did you know the "Big Boy" coal-burning locomotive can out-pull seven diesels? Due to "greenie" pressure it was retired. So now you have 7 diesels all smoking down the tracks in certain regions.

It was the coldest winter in Florida that I can remember. My power bill was $366.00 instead of the normal $120.00. Imagine what that it is doing to people on fixed incomes? Thank God I get my power from a coal plant. Some of my neighbors down the road paid almost double for their power from another company that is heavy in nuclear. I was "THE VOICE" of Florida Power's visual presentation in 1966 about how wonderful nuclear would be. "Almost too cheap to meter" was the bang of the drum. Now we find that the plants will cost more to "retire" than ever expected. And then replaced with what? And where shall we put the nuclear waste? And what if God forbid - a terrorist bombs one?

My house is cold this winter as I cannot afford to run the temp up any further than 68. I remember growing up in a house that had a coal furnace. It was always warm and comfy. Kids didn't seem to get as sick and we played in the snow and came in to a warm house. Now you come into a home that is about the temperature of an old moldy mausoleum. I am sicker than ever before and stay under a blanket when watching TV in a chair. Welcome to the modern year 2009. And oh, I supplement the heat in my house with a very heavy-duty Canadian-made wood burning stove. Another $75.00 a month for wood in the coldest time as I am in a wheelchair and cannot harvest the FREE WOOD that is offered to anyone with a pickup truck and chain saw in many places. It will burn coal but I cannot find a source here in Florida. If it did a coal-fire would last about six hours with minimal re-stoking. Instead I burn oak as pine is too dangerous.

Now the "Greenies" who mostly drive SUV's run ads about how dirty coal is. Really? Ever tour a refinery? How do you like the stench of exhaust in the big cities? Now if we had a system of electrification using coal to generate the power the air could be cleaner and budgets lower. And if you think wind and solar are the answer then tell me what do you do when the wind stops blowing and the sun goes down? If you think you have a real environmental problem now, wait until millions of batteries from solar use have to be recycled. I know, I built a solar house and wrote a book about it. And did you ever see a coal-polluted beach and sea birds dying of coal. NEVER.

OK, we build newly designed coal-plants with scrubbers that then capture chemicals that are often as valuable as the coal you burned. Coal ash can be used for many purposes such as building roads, mixing with concrete and other uses. And we have a supply of coal that will power us for centuries while we explore fusion and other forms of reliable power. Ask the "Greenies" to top that? And while at it, how come they don't bicycle to work? Yes, a number of energy solutions is needed but coal is the one you can depend on.

Donations by check in any amount needed now. Please send to:

Chuck Harder,

PO Box A

White Springs, FL 32096