Smart Talk: Future of coal in PA
Photo by Scott LaMar/WITF
What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, September 11, 2014:
Is there a war on coal? That’s debatable but a war, or at least a battle over coal is being fought in Pennsylvania.
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules that would require Pennsylvania to reduce carbon emissions by 32% within the next 16 years. That would have an impact on the state’s coal burning power plants.
The coal industry complains the new rules would cost thousands of jobs, increase the cost of electricity, and make the nation’s power grid less reliable.
Supporters of the proposal say carbon dioxide from coal burning plants is the biggest source of pollution that leads to climate change. They also say the health of children and older people is harmed by the emissions.
EPA wants more use of natural gas and renewable energies. Ironically, there are environmentalists who are concerned that will mean a turn back to more nuclear power.
We’ll hear from both sides of the conversation on Thursday’s Smart Talk. John Pippy, CEO of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance and Rob Altenburg, a senior energy analyst with the environmental group Penn Future appear on the program.
Rob Altenburg
