My pets (not the furry kind)

Our book discusses the movement of our dependence on renewable resources to a dependence on non-renewable resources. It's a topic I'm really interested in especially in reference to materials used for energy. So I chose two materials that can be used for energy as my "pet" materials, aka materials that I would like to learn more about: coal and thorium.  I know more about one than the other since I've been working on an anti-coal campaign for more than a year.  There are 13-14 (depending on who you ask) coal-fired power plants in the state of Georgia and 3 proposed coal-fired power plants. There is a proposed plant for Sandersville, which is located about 60 miles east of Macon. 

Using coal as an energy source has environmental impacts as well as social impacts. A major way that we obtain coal is through a process called mountain top removal primarily utilized in the Appalachian Mountains. The process can be linked to loss of jobs and the ruination of communities in Appalachia.  The coal sludge incident in Tennessee displaced an entire community. For more examples of these social issues, I suggest watching Coal Country, a documentary distributed by the Sierra Club. 

What about environmental impacts? Mercury in our water! Carbon emissions! Ash! Sulfur dioxide which is linked to acid rain. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) which is a greenhouse gas. 

Coal is local and "abundant," even though our reserves will run out eventually (some predict in a few hundred years).  Regardless we have focused our resources on this type of energy when we should have focused on developing renewable energy technologies. 

Thorium is a chemical element with atomic number 90. It is estimated to be more abundant than uranium and has been considered in the production of nuclear power. However, thorium cannot be used for nuclear weapons AND there is no threat of meltdown. Isn't that amazing? (I think so) I had no idea that thorium was an option for nuclear energy until I read this article. My objection to nuclear energy lies in the fact that it is not forgiving to human malice or human error, but with thorium as the power source, this would no longer be an issue. I also think that developing nuclear energy (using uranium or plutonium) in America is hypocritical if we dictate how other countries make their energy out of fear for their development of nuclear weapons. Nuclear energy has no carbon emissions and is quite efficient and inexpensive, and it's abundant in the United States.  It's an interesting avenue and option, but I'm sure more research needs to be done.  

Excellent.