[schamp]

Without coal about 50-60% of the United States would be dark. No power period. Think we need coal? It takes around 17 to 20 years to get a nuke plant up and going, from permit to start up. We have about 300 years worth of coal within the US. Don't think any of the large coal plants will be closing. Here is a problem. Obama puts Carol Browner in as Head of Energy. She would not even talk to anyone from a company that burned coal when she was head of the EPA. Clinton had her at the EPA for 8 years I think maybe 4. I know where a small coal plant is that can only run for a certain number of hours (around 2500) per year. Anything over that is big fines. They are converting it to fuel. Think the price per KW hour went up? Not saying we don't need to do something but it going to take years and not just his first year in office.