Why is coal such a bad energy source?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/26/tennessee.sludge/index.html

This story says it all.
Wind, Solar, Geothermal, Hydroelectric, Natural Gas, Switchgrass Bio-Fuel, Tidal, Solar Thermal and yes even Oil. None of those are a danger to society like coal is. It IS a disaster to install a coal refinery.
In the future avoid making value judgements in such a rash manner.
Of course every power source no matter what source initially has a waste production.
Wind power and Solar PVC power plants after they are operational have no direct waste production. Coal has a tremendous amount of permanent direct everyday waste production for the entire life of the coal power plant not to mention a tremendous amount of initial waste in building the coal power plant. The amount of waste that comes from building wind and solar PVC plants is not even worth mentioning in comparison with the waste produced from building a coal power plant.
The infrastructure for transporting coal by rail or vehicle is massive. Wind and Solar has very little of that infrastructure need if any
A coal plant is unsightly along with its ash and settling ponds. Its invasive to the land when mountain tops are blown off or ground water is contaminated by waste water. A coal plant uses a tremendous amount of water to produce energy. Wind and Solar PVC uses none. Coal is a failure and needs to end.
Wow
It is like Exxon Valdez
Disgusting

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081230/ap_on_re_us/flooded_neighborhood

It depends on how you define "a danger to society."

While coal is the highest pollutant on the list, oil has the greatest possibility of causing a nuclear conflagration that could cause the annihilation of every living thing on the planet.

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3 Responses to Why is coal such a bad energy source?

  1. xLiLEviLAnGeLx says:

    It causes a lot of pollution and with pollution comes many problems such as health of humans and other animals, destruction of Mother Nature, etc
    References :

  2. David N says:

    It depends on how you define "a danger to society."

    While coal is the highest pollutant on the list, oil has the greatest possibility of causing a nuclear conflagration that could cause the annihilation of every living thing on the planet.
    References :

  3. djh1960 says:

    Coal is actually a very good and cheap energy source. Cheap enough that it has been dramatically cleaned up over the past three decades. It is a more constructive process to figure out what to do with the waste ash, since (unless we get nuclear fusion going) coal will be burned in this country for the next few centuries, at least.

    Coal supplies over 20% of the energy we use in this country.

    All energy production will produce toxic waste products (even solar – mercury, selenium, and arsenic). Biofuels produce 250% of the CO2 that gasoline does because it is only 40% as efficient. Geothermal and tidal may produce the fewest waste products.

    In the future avoid making value judgements in such a rash manner.
    References :