Letter to the Editor: More than coal

By Sun Advocate

Editor:
In regards to an article in the Deseret News Sunday, April 15, 2007, “Coal-powered electricity increases pollution levels”.
I do not believe in putting my trust in science, and so called facts. I live away from the Wasatch Front, and incidentally I live near a coal fired power plant. There is technology today to burn coal and be environmentally conscious. Plants today are being improved by the use of gas scrubbers and fly ash removal systems.
True, we should look to other resources. Hydro power is done by backing up water in our state with the Green and the Colorado rivers, which I imagine is not very popular these days with environmental groups. And in addition there is geothermal, solar, natural gas and wind power. I feel there is nothing more beautiful than to see lines of wind turbines on the horizon.
Is it not true that the Wasatch Front is growing every year and with it increased use in the automobile? Even with improved emission controls, in my opinion, vehicles are the biggest contributor to the pollution problem. How about using mass transit, which I am sure many do. I rarely drive to downtown Salt Lake anymore when I go to the Wasatch Front.
Everything we have today has the potential to harm us or the environment.
We drive faster and more people are dying on our highways than ever. And yes I believe there are substances such as drug and alcohol abuse, yet our life span seems as a whole seems to increase?
Geneva Steel is now completely gone and yet I can drive into Utah County from Spanish Fork Canyon and I still drive into an ugly cloud. It’s sunny where I live. I do not believe the blame for pollution should be put on coal generation. The wind usually blows out of the north and if we did not have the Wasatch plateau dividing us from the cities we would have their smog in our area.
I have a hard time believing coal generation is causing the Wasatch Front’s smog problem. On most nights the sky where I live is crystal clear and I can see the lights from the Wasatch Front.
I do not buy into global warming; let us worry a little more about the trash along our highways, our mountains, streams and lakes. Let’s just look at a recreation area in our state after a holiday weekend. I feel that as a society we take way more from our environment than we put in. A bigger home to satisfy vanity that takes more lumber and other raw materials.
It would be nice to see people with lots of money, politicians, and others, practice what they preach.
Coal is still reliable and can be a clean resource. The luxuries we have today still take electricity. It powers our homes and makes life much easier. Power outages make the news when they happen and yet we still take it for granted. As populations increase there will be more shortages and outages. Our world today reminds me of a story; “The sky if falling.”