Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The true inconvenient truth: Coal saves and improves lives
And we'll rely on it for decadesBy Brett Harvey, CEO - CONSOL
The recent Post-Gazette series on air quality in our region, "Mapping Mortality," reminds me of the Mark Twain statement "It's not what you don't know that kills you; it's what you know for sure that ain't true."
The idea is captured best by the centuries-old oath sworn by any American who testifies in a court of law -- "the truth" is insufficient to understanding an issue; "the whole truth" is required.
The whole truth is that there is no such thing as "emissions-free" energy.
The simple-minded "energy vs. the environment" debate, in which some in our country today are foolishly stuck, is a false choice. Only an "energy and the environment" strategy makes both moral and practical sense.
Energy is critical to human progress. Study after study proves that access to affordable electricity is a driving factor in human well-being. With such access, life expectancy rises and nutrition, health and educational levels all increase. But today, more than 1.5 billion people -- equivalent to the current population of Pennsylvania nearly 120 times over -- do not own a light bulb.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11031/1121798-109.stm