[EnviroTO]

Clean coal on the other hand can be done in such a way that it emits (very nearly) no smog-causing pollutants or GHG

I don't get it. CO2 is a the GHG everyone is talking about isn't it? Coal is mostly carbon and burning it is adding oxygen. I don't get how you burn something that is more carbon and less hydrogen to produce less CO2 unless you are producing more carbon monoxide which doesn't seem like an improvement to me. If you burn hydrogen you get water so obviously having more hydrogen in the burn should be cleaner. Clean coal is an improvement on dirty coal (more sulphur contaminants) but it can't be better than pure methane, ethane, propane, or butane (the primary components of natural gas). Can you explain how clean coal will produce less GHGs to me because I don't get it?

 

[afransen TO]

Here's what wikipedia says on the matter. It should clear things up:

Clean coal is the name attributed to coal chemically washed of minerals and impurities, sometimes gasified, burned and the resulting flue gases treated with steam, with the purpose of almost completely eradicating sulphur dioxide and reburned so as to make the carbon dioxide in the flue gas economically recoverable. The carbon dioxide can then be captured and stored instead of being released into the atmosphere (see carbon capture and storage).

There are a variety of possible ways of storing the CO_2 once captured, but this field is still in relative infancy.

 

[EnviroTO]

I would imagine what ever method of capturing CO2 is devised for coal that same technology could be implemented when burning gas with less CO2 to be captured.

 

[bizorky]

There are a variety of possible ways of storing the CO_2 once captured, but this field is still in relative infancy.

Which makes the stated preference of clean coal by Dion a little odd in that the technology is not yet available. One can only assume he's looking at this as a longer term solution. No doubt he is aware that the rebuilding of the Ontario power system is underway and can't wait the years/decades for a clean coal technology that will satisfy his policy goals.

The Americans are also pursuing the technology:

www.fossil.energy.gov/pro...cleancoal/

 

[bizorky]

PM announces $1.5-billion in alternative energy funding
Canadian Press

METCHOSIN, B.C. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the federal government is putting more than $1.5-billion into funding for alternative energy technologies.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today in Metchosin, B.C., that the EcoENERGY Renewable Initiative will boost Canada's renewable energy supplies.

The first component of $1.48-billion is designed to increase supplies of clean electricity from renewable sources like wind, biomass, small hydro and ocean energy.

Mr. Harper says a 10-year incentive program will be established to fund eligible projects to be constructed over the next four years.

A second component will provide more than $35-million in incentives and industry support for the adoption of clean, renewable thermal technologies for water and space-heating in buildings.

The prime minister was joined by Environment Minister John Baird and Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn for the announcement at the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, west of Victoria.

-----------------------------
It will be interesting to see the details of this.

 

[Observer Walt]

Only a year ago, health care was "hands down" the Number One concern of Canadians, with education probably being second. Now, it's pretty clearly the environment. Interesting how this has turned around so suddenly. I hope this doesn't reverse again in the next few months.

 

[afransen TO]

I think you can blame Canadian's concern about the environment at present on the unusual weather we've been having this Fall/Winter clear across the country as well as our complete humiliation on the international scene since the Conservatives were elected. It was really embarassing that Canada was chairing a climate change conference with a government that was essentially trying to saboutage the international process. We should have resigned as chairs if our government had had a change of heart (or ideology, rather!).