Economist: The Illusion of Clean Coal

“FACTORIES of death” is how James Hansen, a crusading American scientist, describes power stations that burn coal. Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels, producing twice the carbon dioxide that natural gas does when it is burned. That makes it a big cause of global warming. But some of the world’s biggest economies rely on coal. It provides almost 50% of America’s and Germany’s power, 70% of India’s and 80% of China’s. Digging up coal provides a livelihood for millions of people. And secure domestic sources of energy are particularly prized at a time when prices are volatile and many of the big oil and gas exporters are becoming worryingly nationalistic. It is hard to see how governments can turn their backs on such a cheap and reliable fuel.....

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13235041


Stay tuned for an EDF study (I researched and helped write) on how Multilateral Development Banks and Export Credit Agencies have been funding coal-fired power plants in the developing world, due out at the end of this month, just in time for the World Bank spring meetings.