Environmental Disaster at Coal Power Facility

" An environmental disaster occurred at a coal-fired power plant in Harriman, Tennessee on Dec. 22. A dam holding 5.4 Million of cubic yards of waste Coal Ash slurry gave way and the contents smashed through a Harriman neighborhood, knocking one home off its foundation, damaging 11 others, and toppling trees and power lines. It left 4 to 6 feet of gray ash muck across a 300 to 400 acre area, draining into nearby rivers that supply drinking water downstream to millions of people. Coal ash contains toxic heavy metals which can cause cancer and neurological problems, and are used in rat poison and insecticides." - from Clean Energy NOW !

FJR: As we discuss one of the most important issues of our time, our Energy Future, shouldn’t stories like these be on our minds instead of ads that say coal power is ‘clean?’ I mean, this issue should be factored in decisions on where to place wind towers in our area because if you not using clean, renewable wind power, you’re probably using coal power—which is fueling most of America’s electrical energy. How are we ever going to get our way of life on a sustainable track if we don’t get the facts and think about this issue free from powerful interests pushing and agenda instead of science?

It’s up to the public to demand from their media and representatives in government to present the real and honest choices we face in determining our Energy Future.