MetaFilter posts tagged with coal

China and India have reported massive finds of frozen methane

stbalbach — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:10:44 -0800

China and India have reported massive finds of frozen methane clathrate off their coasts and, along with Japan and other countries, are spending large sums to develop it into a new source of fossil energy. This is important for developing countries as there may be more frozen methane in the world than all the oil, gas and coal combined, and it is available right off their coasts. Some believe it can be extracted in a carbon neutral manner, but methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and the scarily named clathrate gun hypothesis provides some fuel for thought about digging this stuff up.

Mountaintop Removal Mining

homunculus — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:45:14 -0800

Appalachian Apocalypse. Mountaintop removal mining (previously) has a devastating effect on the environment and local populations. The Bush administration wants to loosen regulations and expand the practice. [Via Wired Science.]

Down The Mine

homunculus — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:50:29 -0800

Down The Mine. An essay on coal mining as seen by George Orwell in 1937. [Via The Huffington Post.]

Peak Coal?

Crotalus — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 22:40:28 -0800

Is the USA the Saudi Arabia of Coal? Not so fast! It appears that US coal reserves have been grossly overstated. (See also this report in PDF format.) Does this mean we've already hit peak coal in the lower 48? How does this change the plans of those who want to use CTL to ease our dependence on foreign oil.

US Energy Flows

pombe — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:12:55 -0800

Lawrence Livermore National Lab produces fascinating charts of energy flow in the US (more). More energy use statisitics can be found at the Energy Information Administration.

Solar power rental

stbalbach — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:04:47 -0800

CitizenRe is a solar power rental company for the home. Free to install (!), a monthly rental fee is equal to what would normally be paid to the power company. Video.

Hummers for all, thanks to Apartheid and the Nazis.

Meatbomb — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:47:19 -0800

Green Nazis.

Big OilCoal. The other black fossil fuel.

stbalbach — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 21:02:32 -0800

The average American uses 20 pounds of coal a day. "our shiny white iPod economy is propped up by dirty black rocks.. I see more people dying of particle air pollution than are dying of AIDS." Coal accounts for nearly 40 percent of America's carbon dioxide emissions. Big Coal by Jeff Goodell.

Propaganda Engine

thefreek — Sat, 13 May 2006 07:27:20 -0800

Oil and Gas are such slut bags! Coal is so cute! Don't you feel like such a schmuck for not liking coal? A NPO promoting the benefits of coal with children for spokespeople.

Gunkanjima

arse_hat — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 00:22:46 -0800

Gunkanjima or Battleship Island is 480 x 160 meters and was home to more than 5000 people. Abandoned for more than 40 years it is a microcosm of 20th century industrial development. A soundtrack to the photos. Or take the multimedia tour. Urban exploration.