There’s no such thing as “clean coal”

Boston.com’s The Big Picture has a shocking set of photos showing the coal industry in all its so-called “clean” glory:

Mining for coal is one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. While deadliest in China, where thousands of miners die annually, the profession is still hazardous in the West and other regions as well. Our mining and use of coal accounts for a variety of environmental hazards, including the production of more CO2 than any other source. Other concerns include acid rain, groundwater contamination, respiratory issues, and the waste products which contain heavy metals.

While abundant, the truth is that coal is never clean and its hazardous health impacts are far from cheap. We’re not likely to get completely off coal anytime soon, but we must demand accountability for its external costs. While the coal industry claims to be safe, they lobby hard against any kind of regulations to clean up their act. The only way to move towards cleaner forms of energy is for industries to pay the true costs of doing business.