¿Qué problemas tiene la quema del carbón para la producción de
energía? (en
inglés)
Burning coal is the most
polluting way to generate electricity. From mining, to transportation, to
generation, to waste disposal, coal causes severe environmental problems that
other energy resources do not. Coal is full of hazardous substances that, when
burned, contaminate the air, the land and water. Other sources of electricity
generation, including water, wind, and solar do not have these severe
environmental consequences. There are also differences in
the amount of pollution produced by different coal-burning technologies. Many
people who are concerned about the impact of coal burning on the atmosphere and
human health are trying to stop the development of all new coal-fired power
plants. Other people are urging that only the least polluting technology be
used. Currently, that technology is integrated gasification and combined cycle
combustion (IGCC). With IGCC there is even the possibility that carbon
dioxide—the primary global warming pollutant—can be captured and sequestered in
the ground. Whether IGCC is the answer or not, the fact remains that using coal
to produce electricity is poisoning the planet and causing irreparable harm
worldwide.
Here are some of the issues to
consider when thinking about using coal for electricity.
Mercury:
Coal-fired power plants are the
leading source of mercury in Montana's air. Nationwide, these plants are
responsible for over 40% of the mercury that enters the air each year. In
Montana, these plants report emitting 92% of the mercury in Montana's air.
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. It impairs fetal development and causes
neurological disorder, developmental disabilities, visual and hearing
impairment, and cardiac diseases. Minute quantities in the womb can cause
irreversible effects. It has been linked to autism, ADD and other learning
disabilities. These plants have the ability to control at least 90% of their
mercury emissions but currently no plants in Montana are doing so. The State
needs stronger rules that require all plants to reduce mercury pollution as
much as possible.
Air Quality:
When coal is burned harmful air
pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates are released
to the air. These pollutants cause and aggravate respiratory diseases, damage
lung tissue, and can lead to premature death. They can also harm vegetation,
trees, crops and water quality.
Global Warming Pollution:
Coal-fired power plants are the
primary source of the principal global warming pollutant, carbon dioxide.
Between 1990 and 2003, total
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions increased about 18%.
About 98% of carbon dioxide
emissions in the U.S. come from the burning of fossil fuels.
There is broad scientific
agreement that human activities are causing the temperature of the earth's
atmosphere to rise.
With only 5% of the world's
population, the U.S. emits 22% of the world's greenhouse gases (24 tons per
person per year). Montana emits 35 tons per person per year. Montana ranks 8th
in the nation in per capita CO2 emissions.
In the last 1,000 years, the
hottest 20 years have occurred since 1980. 2005 was the hottest year ever
recorded.
In Montana global warming puts
agriculture, water availability, tourism, forest health, and millions of
species at risk.
Since 1999, Montana's wheat
yields have been 15-30% less than the previous 10 years. The models developed
by MSU on global warming impacts on Montana agriculture predict a further
20-40% decrease in yields.
Of the 150 glaciers present in
Glacier National Park 100 years ago, only 26 remain. Even these are expected to
vanish within 30 years.
In Montana, Spring melt-off
occurs 15 days earlier than 50 years ago according to University of Montana
scientist, Steve Running, with the Montana Climate Center.
Snowfall in the Missoula area
has fallen from 55 inches to 40 inches, and the number of frost-free days has increased
by 15 in the last 50 years.
Flathead Lake reported the
highest ever mid-lake temperature on July 22, 2003: 76 degrees at the deepest
point.
Mining and Reclamation:
Montana has an enormous amount
of coal. Compared to neighboring states, the rate of coal mining in Montana has
remained relatively constant for the past 30 years because Montana coal is more
expensive to mine, can be of marginal quality, and is more expensive to
transport to market.
Reclamation of coal mines is a
significant challenge. Since the early 1970s, Montana has had an exemplary
reclamation law but problems still remain. Montana mining companies are not
reclaiming lands concurrently with mining. This makes it more difficult, and
expensive, to re-establish vegetation, and raises the issue whether the
reclamation bonds are adequate. Water impacts, however, remain the biggest
challenge. While surface water drainages are relatively easy to restore
superficially, it remains to be seen how viable they will be over the long
term. Underground, large problems still occur. As groundwater percolates
through reclaimed spoils it becomes contaminated with all sorts of previously
unavailable chemicals. This contamination manifests itself ultimately in
surface water and the uptake of contaminants in vegetation.
It is because mining companies
are unable to effectively deal with these water quality problems that no land
mined after the passage of the Montana Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation
Act has ever had its bond fully released
Solid Waste:
The ash from coal-fired
power plants contains about 5% hazardous substances including arsenic, cadmium,
chromium, lead and mercury. Over 120 sites across the country have contaminated
surface and ground water due to improper disposal of ash from coal-fired power
plants
