While Congress emphasizes the importance of switching to clean energy around the U.S., it’s got a dirty little secret in its own backyard: the Capitol Power Plant, which still burns coal and produces one-third of Congress’ greenhouse gas emissions. Lawmakers have been attempting to clean it up for years, and they’ve also reduced their energy consumption and cut back the percentage of coal burned, but it’s a long way from being fully green.
So the question some people are asking is, how can Congress demand that power companies cut emissions and switch to cleaner energy sources when they’re not even doing it themselves?
From MSNBC:
The plant’s story is one that is likely to play out across the United States as Congress looks to limit greenhouse gases and require more of the country’s energy to come from wind, solar and other renewable sources.
The issues hampering the cleanup — politics, cost and technological barriers — could trip up similar efforts elsewhere. The U.S. counts on coal-fired power plants for about half of its electricity; the plants are also the biggest source of heat-trapping gases.
So if Congress cannot act locally, as the environmental slogan goes, how can it begin to think globally?
The Capitol Power Plant was at the center of the Capitol Climate Action anti-coal protest that went down in Washington D.C. yesterday. A coalition of over 90 groups came together, risking arrest, to demand the demise of coal as an energy source. Dr. James Hansen, the NASA scientist who has been instrumental in raising awareness about global warming, said that the battle starts with getting coal out of Congress.
Of course, it’s not surprising that nothing happened during Bush’s two terms in office to convert the plant. In 2000, senators from coal-producing states blocked an effort to rid the plant of coal and oil and the Bush Administration has never made any effort to push green energy in any capacity. But, we may make some headway soon now that Obama is in office. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have proposed converting the plant to 100% natural gas.
It may be an expensive investment, but Congress has got to practice what they preach and get this plant cleaned up.
Link [MSNBC]
Photo credit: Greenpeace
