Democrats Supporting Coal With Appropriations Bill
Democrats gained majority control of Congress in part by promising to counter the Republicans’ unbalanced energy policy that favored fossil fuel corporations relying on 20th century and thwarted the development and implementation of new, sustainable energy technologies.
So, what are the Democrats doing now that they’ve gained majority control of Congress, and even have a Democratic President to back them up? They’re supporting an unbalanced energy policy that favors fossil fuel corporations and thwarts the development of new, sustainable energy technologies.
Democrats are promoting H.R.1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for clean coal programs. The problem: Clean coal doesn’t actually exist. Furthermore, even if the research goals of clean coal problems were achieved somehow, burning coal still would not be a clean and safe source of energy. Mining for coal and dealing with coal sludge wastes would remain dangerous, dirty and heavily polluting.
Clean coal is a hoax, a fraudulent coal industry doppleganger of true sustainable energy research. It’s like what Kellogg’s did with Frosted Flakes, showing it with eggs and fruits and a glass of milk, then saying that Frosted Flakes could be part of a nutritious breakfast.
Congressional Democrats are betting that they can get away with it, earning campaign donations from coal industry lobbyists without the public noticing anything. So far, they are getting away with it, in large part because corporate journalism isn’t reporting the clean coal funding in the Omnibus Appropriations bill.
The House of Representatives has already passed the H.R.1105, but the Senate is still considering the legislation. It’s not too late to stop the clean coal section of the Omnibus Appropriations Act from becoming law. Please call your US senators and ask them to offer amendments removing the funding for the rather dirty clean coal projects.
