Comments on: Energy Efficiency Could Cut Greenhouse Gases 30% by 2030

By: Shea Gunther

Shea Gunther — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:50:30 +0000

@Matt- We need to replace coal related jobs with green jobs. Give the miners a job in a factory building wind turbines or solar panels. A responsible shift from dirty sources like coal doesn’t leave the coal mining (and trucking) families behind- it brings them into the new reality of green, renewable energy.

Coal miners don’t go down into the bowels of the earth because they love getting black lung and breaking their backs all day- they do it to provide for their families. Let’s give them that same chance by doing something that not only provides energy for the rest of us, but that does it in a way that doesn’t destroy the world (and their health).

Being anti-coal does NOT mean being anti-coal miner.

By: Matt Campbell

Matt Campbell — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:41:18 +0000

I work in a industry that serves the coal business. My question is what will the millions of people that rely on coal, do to feed there family. Truckers that haul coal. Underground/surface miners. The hundreds of companies that serve the coal industry like mine? The day shift workers at a power plant? The enitre Central Appalachain reigon would shut down (Eastern KY South West, West Virginia.) I would really like a honest response. I am not trying to stir the pot but would just lke to know what Earth First thinks should be done. Have you ever been to these places? Have you ever seen how the reigon relys on the coal fields? What should be done with the people without jobs and what is the energy answer? Thanks and look forward to hearing a response

By: Pete Murphy

Pete Murphy — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:57:34 +0000

There’s just one problem with your approach. It ignores population growth. Our population is projected to grow by about 30% by 2030. So, if you cut per capita energy consumption by 30%, you’ve gained nothing toward reducing total carbon emissions.