"Bring Back Van Jones: Blindsiding Clean Energy W/ Dirty Coal"

[amborin]

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In the President's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the entire state of Kentucky, for example, only received $4.7 million in green job funds and initiatives--while billions of dollars continue to be poured into the Big Coal black hole to cover external health care and environmental costs, including defaulted black lung payments.

A study released by the National Academy of Scientists in October found that the "hidden costs" of coal amount to more than $62 billion in "external damages" to our health and lives. According to a West Virginia University report this year, the coal industry "costs the Appalachian region five times more in early deaths than it provides in economic benefits." A recent Mountain Association of Community Economic Development study concluded that coal is responsible for $528 million in state revenues and $643 million in state expenditures in Kentucky alone.

While Kentucky ranks 46-47th in per capita income, coal mining hubs like Clay, Harlan and Martin County rank as some of the poorest counties in the nation.

Thanks to mountaintop removal mining and greater mechanization, employment in these coalfield areas has dropped by nearly 50 percent in the last generation.

A year ago at the Powershift clean energy conference in Washington, DC, Jones declared: "This movement also has to include the coal miners." He added. "We could have clean coal, and we could have unicorns pull our cars for us."

While our President continues to carry Jones' clean energy banner, he still glibly clings to "clean coal" slogans, a motto introduced by Chicago coal pusher Francis Peabody in the 1890s, and used over the past century whenever the coal industry faces an image problem and seeks to derail any diversification in our coalfield economies......

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As blasting continues daily at the Bee Tree Branch area of the massive 6,600-acre mountaintop removal mine on historic Coal River Mountain today, our nation's most exciting clean energy initiative and green jobs breakthrough for the coalfields is being destroyed. Coal River Mountain is being blown to bits, and with it, any sustainable economic future for the area. Unlike the limited 14-year supply of coal on the site, the Coal River Wind project would have provided long-term energy for 70,000-150,000 households, an estimated 200 jobs and $1.7 million in annual county taxes

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http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/02/03-10

[kristopher]

1. Try to find a clip of Obama's reply to Blanche Lincoln at this morning's Q&A

Watch carefully at the anger on his face during the entire time she is asking the question and then listen when he speaks of coal. My read is that her question was a demand for him to extend the Bush tax cuts in order to get her support for something - probably the health care bill - and he told her that he had already given them the concession on coal and nuclear and that was all they were going to get.

Just an impression and quite likely wishful thinking. I'd like to hear what others think.

[TxRider]

2. I think I must be looking at the wrong Q&A

I don't see anger when she asks her question.

I don't see him mention coal or nuclear power in his answer to her.

The only mentions of coal and nukes are to Sen Brown at the end.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/03/obamas-question-time-with_n_447409.html

Is this the right Q&A?