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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Coal cheaper option, too harmful

Burning coal for energy causes more harm to the environment than it is worth. Gov. Rick Perry and Texas utility companies are in favor of 16 newly proposed coal-fired plants. Coal has been used in the past and has been proven dependable. Environmentalists, ranchers and many Texas mayors are concerned about air quality. Texas emits the most greenhouse gases of any state. Coal is a plentiful and cheap energy source, which is partially what makes it so appealing. However, burning coal pollutes the air tremendously. Dallas Mayor Laura Miller and Houston Mayor Bill White object to the proposal along with 15 other mayors and about one-third of all Texans.

According to National Public Radio, Miller wants a cleaner way to produce energy with coal. The Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle is 70 percent to 90 percent cleaner than the present method of burning coal. Unfortunately, it is more expensive. Perry is in favor of creating energy by burning coal and says that the IGCC is not ready for Texas. According to NPR, he said that it is a good idea but Texas needs energy now and cannot wait for new systems to be put into place. The decaying state of the environment cannot wait either.

Freshman premajor Lauren Wright said, “It is important to think about the long-term consequences and not the immediate benefits of burning coal.”

IGCC is newer and better technology. It would be foolish not to take advantage of cleaner technology in order to protect the air that cannot be fixed once it is destroyed. There is no reason to put off using a cleaner burning coal method, especially since it is already available.

Sophomore political science and Spanish major Ali Lewis said, “I think more time and money should be invested in finding more efficient and environmentally friendly sources of energy.”

It is important for citizens to be aware of how harmful the new coal plants will be. Otherwise, the government will be able to continue destroying the environment. The coal plants will pollute the air with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury. The biggest pollutant of all is carbon dioxide, which is the primary global warming gas. Carbon dioxide emissions are not regulated by the government. The new power plants will emit the equivalent of 19 million automobiles worth of carbon dioxide every year. Texas’ level of carbon dioxide pollution will be the same as California, New York and Florida combined. The federal government does not regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

Current coal factories are promising to lower emissions voluntarily by 20 percent. All of the people who oppose the coal burning increase want to stall the action until they can get more Democrats in office. In the long run, governor appointees will make the final decision.

Increasing the level of carbon dioxide emissions will not be a problem just for Texas. It will be a global problem. It is not fair for Texas to have such a high rate of pollution that will harm the environment for everyone. Energy is important but not at the expense of ruining the environment.

Michelle Anderson is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Tyler. Her column appears Fridays.

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