More reasons to transition away from using coal

Mercury pollution increases in Illinois
Associated Press
December 28, 2009
CHICAGO -

Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants is increasing in Illinois – despite a decline in such pollution nationwide, according to an analysis of federal data on industrial pollution by the Chicago Tribune.

The analysis found the amount of mercury blown into the air by Illinois’ coal plants increased by 7 percent last year. Mercury emissions from all U.S. power plants declined by 4 percent. Michigan was the only state with a larger increase, while Texas tied Illinois for second.

According to a study from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, mercury-contaminated fish are in nearly half of the nation’s lakes. Scientists from the EPA say relatively large amounts of mercury fall in Chicago, about two-thirds from sources in Illinois. more

Brent contributed this article. He writes further about it:
Illinois nearly leading the nation in coal-fired plant mercury emission increases (7% increase in mercury emissions), while the nation as a whole drops in same deadly emissions (4% decrease nationwide).

It is always so important in the discussion of global climate change to never lose sight of the toxicity issues, which frankly rarely a part of the CO2 sequestration conversation (of course, that is NOT our fault). Such CO2 obsession leads to the nuclear industry defining themselves as the "clean, green energy" and such completely misleading and fraudulent euphemisms as "Clean Coal."

Unfortunately, we also see a large number of well-known environmentalists, like James Lovelock and Stewart Brand, embracing nuclear as a necessity... we all have to do much much better than that, in my opinion, and understand that it is only a lack of "political will" that keeps truly renewable and sustainable technologies from coming to the fore.

Please keep in mind that the U.S. government invests more per year on benefits to victims of black lung, than they invest per year on wind and solar power research and development.

And while EVERY Illinois politician (minus Green Party friends) seemingly has a complete obsession with coal mine jobs in Illinois, fewer than 5,000 people are actually employed in coal mines in Illinois... it is not a viable economic development solution, and has not been for decades now in Illinois as a whole.