The Environmentalist's Carbon Dilemma; Clean Coal Technology

    In Illinois this week, officials from the well known FutureGen project announced that they will begin work on a project to refit an existing power plant with carbon capture technology. As is the way of carbon capture technologies, all carbon emissions from the coal fired plant will be trapped and stored underground in large rock formations where, advocates say, it will be safe and sound.

    But carbon capture and storage creates a dilemma of sorts for environmental activists; is this technology, which could make a significant impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, worth it in comparison to cleaner, more environmentally neutral renewable technologies ? The effects of coal powered electricity generation are not limited to carbon dioxide emissions and their contribution to anthropogenic climate change. Mining practices themselves have enormous impacts on the environment, and just as significantly, can have a brutal impact on the socioeconomic status of coal mining towns.

    However, the threat of climate change is just as real, and perhaps even more significant in scope and impact. With renewable energy sources seemingly decades away from being utilized en mass, is carbon capture and storage an imperative transitional step ? Just as significantly, what impact will the successful employment of carbon capture have on the long term development of renewables ? If we are able to implement the technology successfully, suddenly our most powerful incentive to switch from renewable energy generation is lost, and the status quo and all of its environmental drawbacks are preserved. With the impending problems of climate change, is the option of not pursuing any and all possible carbon reduction technologies and practices even on the table ?

    The questions over carbon capture technology are significant for the thoughtful person. I suspect that the answers each person finds will reflect ones character. The most important thing is that you ask those questions and genuinely seek out their answers. Perhaps then we can begin a real dialogue over such a pressing issue.