The Obama campaign added a section on “clean coal” to its website this week after House Republicans alleged that the president’s “all-of-the-above” energy plan neglected the fossil fuel.“President Obama has set a 10-year goal to develop and deploy cost-effective clean coal technology," according to the story at the link. I have not checked out the website so I cannot verify.
I think it's safe for him to add that to his website. Natural gas is now the real risk for the domestic coal industry.
The timing on President Obama's change of heart is interesting. It couldn't be related to the West Virginia (coal state) primary could it?
ReplyDeleteWest Virginia democrats gave 41% of the vote to a Texas prison inmate rather than vote for the sitting President. Probably just completely unrelated events. Though interesting.
I'm sure it's related.
DeleteI don't think folks realize what a huge part of the economy coal still is. They don't call it "King Coal" for nothing.
Like the oil industry, folks see the rigs but don't see all the support activities.
For coal, entire towns are supported by coal mines. Coal makes up a huge percent of railroad tonnage; anybody associated with railroad industry will be affected by "kill coal" mentality. And, of course, the ports that ship coal. The utilities that use coal.
West Virginia won't affect outcome of the presidential race, but states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, will -- they are very aware of energy issues.
Then with "gay marriage" issue, it puts into play Florida, North Carolina, and possibly even Colorado.
But it is interesting that he "backed down/flipped" on the coal story and added it to his website. If he wasn't concerned about the race, he never would have added coal to his website.