Why We Should Not Use Coal For Electricity In Monroe County
In 1748 coal was first mined in Richmond, Virginia. Since then coal has been a fundamental source of energy for America, powering us through the 19th and 20th century. But times have changed, we have achieved greater technologies that are pollution free, safer, and renewable.
Coal is the number one contributor of fossil fuel CO2 emissions. For every ton of coal burned 2.86 tons of CO2 are released. This in turn strengthens the greenhouse effect by trapping a higher concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, therefore making it harder for heat to escape, hence global warming. This will cause accelerated polar melting with accordingly rising sea levels. If you don't see this to be a real issue, …show more content…
These atrocities are caused by gas explosions and cave-ins. Whenever the miners are underground, they are always subject to noxious gases and coal dust. So when there is a gas leak all you need is a spark and the entire company will die. Cave-ins are caused by the unreliability of rock supporting the weight on the ground. So on any occasion where a miner goes underground, they are betting their lives on the rocks above their head. But the thing that kills the most miners is not freak accidents, but pneumoconiosis (Black Lung). I can say from personal experience how terrible the respiratory condition black lung has effected a family member. My great grandfather worked in the coal mines of Western Kentucky to support his family until the late 1980’s and is currently 91 years old. My great grandfather is hospitalized at least twice a year for Pneumonia, takes breathing treatments, uses inhalers, and oxygen at night to sleep. Studies have also shown how black lung will cause severe nerve damage resulting in the inability to walk correctly. My great grandfather has nerve damage and quit driving his truck because he could not feel the gas and brake
In 1748 coal was first mined in Richmond, Virginia. Since then coal has been a fundamental source of energy for America, powering us through the 19th and 20th century. But times have changed, we have achieved greater technologies that are pollution free, safer, and renewable.
Coal is the number one contributor of fossil fuel CO2 emissions. For every ton of coal burned 2.86 tons of CO2 are released. This in turn strengthens the greenhouse effect by trapping a higher concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, therefore making it harder for heat to escape, hence global warming. This will cause accelerated polar melting with accordingly rising sea levels. If you don't see this to be a real issue, …show more content…
These atrocities are caused by gas explosions and cave-ins. Whenever the miners are underground, they are always subject to noxious gases and coal dust. So when there is a gas leak all you need is a spark and the entire company will die. Cave-ins are caused by the unreliability of rock supporting the weight on the ground. So on any occasion where a miner goes underground, they are betting their lives on the rocks above their head. But the thing that kills the most miners is not freak accidents, but pneumoconiosis (Black Lung). I can say from personal experience how terrible the respiratory condition black lung has effected a family member. My great grandfather worked in the coal mines of Western Kentucky to support his family until the late 1980’s and is currently 91 years old. My great grandfather is hospitalized at least twice a year for Pneumonia, takes breathing treatments, uses inhalers, and oxygen at night to sleep. Studies have also shown how black lung will cause severe nerve damage resulting in the inability to walk correctly. My great grandfather has nerve damage and quit driving his truck because he could not feel the gas and brake