SOUTH CAN RISE AGAIN

Advocates urge South to back off coal; Many lawmakers in region resist cleaner power
Ben Evans, July 13, 2007 (AP via Houston Chronicle)

WHO
Southern states, southern legislators

WHAT
6 of the 10 biggest generators of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are coal-fired power plants in southern states.
Look at the biomass resources available in the South! A pile of money waiting to be had. And with an emissions trading system coming, those waste energy facilities may be able to earn double through carbon credit allowances. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- June, 2007: The Senate could not pass the Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring 15% of electricity come from renewaqble sources by 2020 due to southern Republican opposition inspired by utilities like the Southern Company.
- 2006: The Southern Company earned $1.6 billion in profits.

WHERE
- A belt of U.S. southern states fro Georgia to Texas.
- The 2 largest southern utilities are Atlanta-based Southern Co and Charlotte, N.C.,-based Duke Energy Corp.

WHY
- Half of the votes that defeated the Senate proposal mandating utilities to obtain 15% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 were southern Republicans.
- Utilities like Southern Co. and Duke Energy, that produce 2/3 of their power from aging coal plants in need of clean-air technology upgrades, are among the biggest political donors to the senators who, like the utilities, oppose renewable mandates.
- These utilities and political leaders claim the south lacks large-scale renewable resources like wind and solar. Many scientists say this is incorrect.
- The southern utilities and political leaders claim renewable mandates would drive up power rates. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency says this is incorrect.
Robert Rapier, one of the foremost authorities on EROEI issues, has proposed this model for generating biofuel from cattle/farm waste. Has the Southern dairy industry considered it? (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Michael Shore, director for Southeastern air quality programs, Environmental Defense: "Coal is the dominant source of global warming pollution…It is critical that states in the Southeast embrace energy efficiency and renewables if we are to take responsibility for global warming."