Dirty Coal Equals Dirty Water
It is common knowledge that coal power plants produce a very large amount of air pollution. This is no surprise as coal is the second largest source of energy for the U.S. What may not be widely known is that coal mining is yet another source of water pollution.
A recent example of this additional threat to our water supplies was discovered by the Sierra Club. The environmental group is suing ICG Hazard for dumping toxic amounts of selenium in rivers near a mine in Kentucky. Large amounts of this element can cause severe health problems in both the wildlife in rivers and people who get their drinking water from these sources.
Not surprisingly, a representative for the coal company claims that the company is discharging water within the restrictions of its permit.
What is blatantly obvious to the Sierra Club, or anyone who cares about the environment and health in general, is that companies like ICG Hazard simply do not care about the environmental repercussions of their actions. You can also easily make the case for the idea that the more money a company makes, the easier it is to get away with inexcusable actions.
What typically happens? The company gets sued. It easily pays the fees. Business continues as usual.
Coal, like many other non-renewable sources of energy, is something that we must discontinue using. Many organizations, like the Sierra Club, are fighting a battle that needs to be won if we are to expect to live in a habitable world in the future.
Hopefully, the large energy companies that currently have most of the power to make significant changes will begin to do so real soon. As they exhaust the sources of dirty coal, they will realize that they must make the switch to clean renewable energy if they expect to remain in the energy business.
It would be a win for them and a win for the environment.