A greener future begins with a shift to coal alternatives. IMF. (2022, December 8). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2020/12/08/blog-a-greener-future-begins-with-a-shift-to-coal-alternatives 

In this article its main topic is to shift away from coal, and take necessary steps towards a more green future. Coal is one of the  major contributors to local pollution and climate change in the U.S. Coal is accounting for 44% of global CO2 emissions. The consumption of coal is expected to recover as the U.S economy emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, but many countries are taking steps to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal. Moving away from coal can be difficult due to several problems. Including the industrial use of coal being hard to replace, coal power plants are long-living assets, and the potential losses for the domestic mining industry and its workers. However, stricter environmental policies, carbon taxes, and affordable energy substitutes such as natural gas.. To fully phase out coal, it will take the support of many countries and finding another source of energy.

Out of these articles I enjoyed reading this the most because it gives us examples of what alternatives we can use. And given hard evidence, this relates to APES agenda because it gives specific examples on how there are alternative ways to create power without the use of dirty coal. My reaction to this article was kind of normal but I enjoyed reading it.     

Director, D., Molof, D., Manager, N. F. S., Fowler, N., Manager, S., So, K., Rowland-Shea,  J., Villagomez, A., Manser, K., Christianson, A., Avia, L., & Williamson, M. W. (2022, November 4). Quitting fossil fuels and reviving Rural America. Center for American Progress. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/quitting-fossil-fuels-and-reviving-rural-america/ 

Many coal based towns/cities in the  U.S. are facing significant economic challenges due to the declining use of coal for energy production and the downfall of coal-fired power plants and mines. The loss of coal revenue has led to layoffs, reduced services, and increased taxes and fees. The situation in Big Horn County, Montana serves as an example of the impacts of coal revenue loss on communities. A federal policy framework is needed to address revenue dependence and disentangle local economies from reliance on oil and gas revenue. The Center for American Progress recommends establishing an Energy and Resource Legacy Fund, which would replace annual revenue-sharing payments from fossil fuel production with stable, permanent distributions, and a Rural Investment Council to manage the fund. This solution would provide a predictable source of income for communities transitioning away from fossil fuels, at no cost to U.S. taxpayers.

This relates to our APES topic due to the fact that it gives us a complete run down on the pros and cons of eliminating fossil fuels. Even though eliminating fossil fuel would be great for our plant. Many countries’ cities and towns are economically built by fossil fuels and many people have lives based on selling or producing fossil fuels. I enjoyed reading this article because it gave me 2 different perspectives on fossil fuels and gave me an understanding that fossil fuels are still needed in today’s world. 

U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – independent statistics and analysis. Coal   and the environment – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2022, November 16). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/coal-and-the-environment.php 

Coal mining, particularly surface mining, has significant environmental impacts including changing and damaging the landscape, burying streams, and releasing pollutants and toxins into the water and air. Also underground mining has risks such as ground collapse and release of acidic water. Burning coal releases various harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, carbon dioxide, mercury, and ash residues. The U.S. government has imposed laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to reduce the pollution released. The coal industry has made efforts to reduce pollutants by using scrubbers and cleaning coal, while research is underway to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and mercury through carbon capture and sequestration methods.

In this article made by the U.S energy info administration complementary relates to our APES class/idea. In this article it gives us detailed information on how coal is extracted and the effect of mining it. Also mentions chemicals such as mercury and other hazardous material that would damage any biomass. In my opinion it’s progress that people are trying to create less emission with coal scrubber and using clean coal. So it’s becoming better over time.  

Environmental Protection Agency. (2022, September 3). Power Plants and Neighboring   Communities. EPA. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/power-plants-and-neighboring-communities 

The US Environmental Protection Agency) has given information on communities living near fossil fuel-fired power plants to raise awareness about the disproportionate impact these communities face from power plant emissions. The information is presented in  maps and graphs and includes information on six key demographics, including low-income population, people of color, and population over age 64. The data is based on communities within a three-mile radius of power plants and includes the percentage of each demographic in each community. The map and graph showed the amount of power plants located in or near communities that meet or exceed the 80th percentile nationally for each key demographic. 

The EPA article gives many points of the impacts of our plant but also gives us a demographic explanation on the effect of power plants in low income areas and how race and age etc could affect what you’re exposed to. This relates to APES due to the environmental impacts and how humans are impacted. I was very surprised by the amount of chemicals that people are exposed to. And some of these chemical can lead to cancer which was even more shocking  

Ogasa, N. (2022, December 14). 2022’s biggest climate change Bill pushes Clean Energy. SciencNews.RetrievedJanuary30,2023,fromhttps://www.sciencenews.org/article/2022+-climate-change-bill-legislation-clean-energy 

 The Inflation Reduction Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, This has been one of the biggest investments the United States has made towards neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions. This act has the support of $369 billion to accelerate wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. It will help cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by around 40% of the levels in 2005, with the goal of fulfilling the goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. The act also creates tax credits to reduce the cost for companies to adopt clean energy, helps the average American transition away from fossil fuels, and invests in clean energy for the future.

This article has a huge impact on mining of fossil fuels. This act’s main goal is to switch from unsustainable energy through fossil fuels and transition into clean energy such as hydro and solar and many other green options. This correlates with APES because it creates a better tomorrow for all and creates less co2 emission to be placed into the atmosphere. And besides this act will probably be one of the best things for this plant. We are finally heavily investing into clean energy 

Denchak, M. (2022, June 1). Fossil fuels: The dirty facts. NRDC. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts 

This article addresses the reality of fossil fuels and how they are found. Fossil fuels are deep into the ground so in order to dig them up, people use different methods which can greatly affect the environment. Some of the effects of drilling and burning fossil fuels are water pollution, global warming, pollution, and ocean acidification. Considering that 80% of the U.S.’s energy needs come from the burning of fossil fuels, it is clear that relying so much on them is detrimental to the environment and the condition of the world. 

People only see the energy that they use but do not think about how the environment was affected in order to receive that energy. This article outlines the effects that fossil fuels have on the environment, populations, and our own success. It continues to push us towards a more sustainable lifestyle because it lists out all the ways we are harming the environment. We have made lots of progress with renewable energy so if we continue on that path we are to begin to lessen the severity of our climate change crisis. 

Schouten, Fredreka. “Joe Manchin Has Made Millions from Coal. His Ties Are Now Facing Examination as Democrats Scramble for a Climate and Economic Agreement.” CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Oct. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/politics/joe-manchin-coal-interests/index.html.  

US Senator, Joe Manchin, is questioned for his strong discouragement for the transition to clean energy. He states that clean energy could be unreliable and that the United States should not increase its focus on the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. This has started some uncertainty where Joe is not allowed to use his Senate position to have insight on any financial companies or investments, however, his unwillingness to agree with Biden’s bill could be due to the 1-5million dollars he has with Energy Systems inc., a coal brokerage business he founded. 

In terms of this transition to clean energy, there are many skeptics on the idea of relying on clean energy, opposed to the traditional use of fossil fuels. More specifically, Manchin’s public opinion to stay away from clean energy could mislead United States citizens. His motivation could be not related to the climate at all, but rather his own business earnings. I believe that it is essential for the government to acknowledge this situation involving Manchin and to fully promote the stop of climate change by creating some sort of bill or rule that takes the economic piece out of saving our planet. Our world is priceless, but the selfishness that Minchin promotes could lead to disregarding the environment and solely focusing on money. Similar to our Carbon Tax and Cap and Trade, if people aren’t willing to lose money to help the planet, no progress will be made. Eliminating ideas that promote selfishness and “free riders” should be one of the first steps to limiting carbon emissions, as everyone who lives on this planet must work together to ensure its future. 

Scheiber, Noam. “The Achilles’ Heel of Biden’s Climate Plan? Coal Miners.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Dec. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/business/economy/coal-miners-unions-climate.html?searchResultPosition=4.  

Many United Mine Workers of America members have concerns with Biden’s new bill that will put $150 Billion into clean energy. Even though Biden claims to supply Billions “in aid, training money and redevelopment funds that will help coal communities,” many current coal miners refute this claim stating that JFK promised the same type of support and did not follow through. Mr. Manchin says that even with this new bill, there will need to be more work from the government to transfer into the United States clean energy goal, hurting even more traditional factory workers in the future. Many of these miners do not have a proper skill set to transition into a new branch of work, unlike carpenters and others who will be able to use their skills elsewhere; this produces a severe economic problem. 

I believe that climate change is a severe problem that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible, or else our world might cross into a point of no return. However, many forget the economic problems that might come from the workers of fossil fuel plants going out of business. Many of these plants are in small towns with no abundance of jobs and therefore they are forced into this work and the whole community. Getting rid of these jobs will cause problems for entire communities nationwide, especially because mining and working at these factories is a very particular set of skills that is useless outside of their line of work. How can you convert a person where all they know is mining to working another line of business? And as I mentioned before, will these jobs even be available for these small communities that depend on this line of work? Even though Biden claims to provide aid and training into other fields, I don’t think many will abide/agree with being forced out of their jobs, therefore causing an uproar from people within the Union of the United Mine Workers of America.