Andrew Revkin of the New York Times has some very interesting posts on his blog, very imaginatively called Dot Earth. From semi-philosophical thoughts on the interconnectedness of the human race, to the very earth-bound coal shopping that took the Indian coal minister to the US, the blog is worth adding to your daily read.
It’s not surprising that India, despite big domestic coal reserves, is shopping in the United States for new coal sources to feed its climb toward electrification, industrialization, and prosperity. The giant boilers at the planned fleets of “Ultra Mega” power plants will need millions of tons a year.
It also has interesting comments posted. As always it does become a tussle between lobbies, like the development vs environment ones, or the nuclear vs solar ones.
But one mention he makes in the blog talks of an NRI’s anguish over coal based thermal plants in his home town along the Konkan coast. This is an issue we have decided to take up for our debate as it is very relevant. Not a day passes without some news of opposition to power plants. Why? In this case, for instance, while his concerns about acid rain, and emissions, as also the damage to the habitat are serious, these can be contested. We invite your comments.
Send us facts to back what you say. There is no fun in having a slang match between those who believe poverty can only be eradicated through more thermal plants, or those who think family planning is the answer to India’s energy challenge.
Yes, the vast millions have to be empowered with basic energy, is there only one way to do it? For one, distributed generation based on locally available renewable resources can be harnessed. This has been done in a couple of places and needs to be scaled up. There will be problems but research and efforts can overcome these. If you have heard of any sustained case studies, do let us know.
Upholding the sanctity of a place like Western Ghats is not about aesthetics but a more deeper environment issue of biodiversity and the need to retain our fast shrinking forests. Most of our rivers originate in these forests. The ghats also play a crucial role in bringing rain to the plateau.
Are there other routes to empower the 40 percent with no access to electricity? We have some amount of coal reserves though there are contradicting claims to how long they will last. Many of the operators in generation have hardly ten days of stock on hand.
Coal is termed ‘dirty’ because of the greenhouse gases it emits on combustion. Yet, it is one of the fuels we still have, but also depleting. Do you think we should continue with fossil fuels simply because there is no other 'easy' alternative?
Let us have your thoughts.
It’s not surprising that India, despite big domestic coal reserves, is shopping in the United States for new coal sources to feed its climb toward electrification, industrialization, and prosperity. The giant boilers at the planned fleets of “Ultra Mega” power plants will need millions of tons a year.
It also has interesting comments posted. As always it does become a tussle between lobbies, like the development vs environment ones, or the nuclear vs solar ones.
But one mention he makes in the blog talks of an NRI’s anguish over coal based thermal plants in his home town along the Konkan coast. This is an issue we have decided to take up for our debate as it is very relevant. Not a day passes without some news of opposition to power plants. Why? In this case, for instance, while his concerns about acid rain, and emissions, as also the damage to the habitat are serious, these can be contested. We invite your comments.
Send us facts to back what you say. There is no fun in having a slang match between those who believe poverty can only be eradicated through more thermal plants, or those who think family planning is the answer to India’s energy challenge.
Yes, the vast millions have to be empowered with basic energy, is there only one way to do it? For one, distributed generation based on locally available renewable resources can be harnessed. This has been done in a couple of places and needs to be scaled up. There will be problems but research and efforts can overcome these. If you have heard of any sustained case studies, do let us know.
Upholding the sanctity of a place like Western Ghats is not about aesthetics but a more deeper environment issue of biodiversity and the need to retain our fast shrinking forests. Most of our rivers originate in these forests. The ghats also play a crucial role in bringing rain to the plateau.
Are there other routes to empower the 40 percent with no access to electricity? We have some amount of coal reserves though there are contradicting claims to how long they will last. Many of the operators in generation have hardly ten days of stock on hand.
Coal is termed ‘dirty’ because of the greenhouse gases it emits on combustion. Yet, it is one of the fuels we still have, but also depleting. Do you think we should continue with fossil fuels simply because there is no other 'easy' alternative?
Let us have your thoughts.
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