The South has long relied on coal for electricity. Its two largest utilities - Atlanta-based Southern Co. and Charlotte, N.C.,-based Duke Energy Corp. - produce about two-thirds of their power from coal, mostly burned in aging plants not yet upgraded with clean-air technologies.
Southern Co. puts more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other U.S. utility.
Its Scherer plant near Macon, Ga., for several years has been the nation's single largest source of the greenhouse gas, which most scientists believe contributes to global warming. Duke Energy isn't far behind, ranking third in carbon dioxide emissions, while the Tennessee Valley Authority ranks fourth, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Many of the companies' plants also rank among the worst in emissions of mercury, a neurotoxin, and other pollutants that cause smog, respiratory problems and acid rain.
Frankly, reading this kind of makes me feel guilty using the electricity to even make this post.
Isn't it about time for Alabama's elected officials to take a long-term view of resource stewardship and embrace a reasonable approach to renewable power?
And, as the story reports, the Southern Co. made 1.6 billion dollars in profit last year. If it invested just 25% of that profit into renewable power, we'd be looking at 400 million in renewable possibilities...
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