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Timeline A Brief History of Coal and Man
Source: Colorized postcards of U.S. coal Miners in 1910 (http;//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Coal1910.jpg).
2000-1000 B.C.E.- The first use of coal began in the “Bronze Age” (Wikipedia 2007) 475-221 BC- During the Warring States Period, “The Chinese began to use coal for heating and smelting” (Wikipedia 2007) (100-200 AD) – First archeological evidence of Europeans using coal technology (Department of Energy (DOE) (2007). 1740’s- Commercial Coal Mining in U.S. begins for powering steam technologies. (DOE 2007) 1875- Technological breakthrough- cooking coal in a certain way produced “coke”, a precursor to cheap iron, and “was one of the factors leading to the Industrial Revolution” (Wikipedia 2007) 1880’s- John C.C. Mayo “bought thousands of mineral parcels” under the Broad form deed. Mining companies eventually began destroying the lands to retrieve the coal. (Reece 2006). 1900- Coal production reaches full momentum and mining companies in the Appalachian Mountains process 250,000,000 pounds of coal for supplying electricity to cities and industrial plants (Adams 2001). 1907-
1910-
1952- Authority was invested to a newly appointed department with the ability to shut down dangerous mining facilities. Despite serious loopholes and a secretly self-governed industry, President H. Truman signed “the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act (FCMS) to improve safety standards (Goodell 2006). 1977- After many more mining accidents, the government created the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to monitor and enforce safety issues concerning coal mining (Goodell 2006). 1978- First pollution collection/reduction methods installed coal plants (Flue gas desulfurization or scrubbers). (DOE 2007). 1986- Clean Coal Technology Program began- Although efforts to reduce emissions have been successful with advancing technologies in the state and private sectors, they have “not been proved commercially” (DOE 2007) 1988- The formation of the world’s scientists to tackle climate science, known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), they began researching and publishing reports to assist decision-makers about concerns over global warming. (Freese & Clemmer 2006). 1990- The first report by the IPCC issued that "the unequivocal detection of the enhanced greenhouse effect from observations is not likely for a decade or more." (Rosenthal & Revkin 2007) 1995- An updated report on IPCC’s released an update, stating "the balance of evidence suggests a discernable human influence on global climate” due to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (Rosenthal & Revkin 2007).
Berlin Mandate on Kyoto Protocol- Strong talks “for detailed commitments” to reducing harmful GHG emissions such as carbon dioxide (UNFCCC 2006). 1997- Kyoto Protocol adopted in Kyoto, Japan (84 countries signed, excluding U.S.) to reduce carbon dioxide levels significantly and begin intense efforts for creating sustainable energies for developed nations. 1988- The formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Created the famous “hockeystick FAQ” on global warming that shows the drastic changes in temperature and GHG levels since the Industrial Revolution. (IPCC 2006). 2000- On Oct. 11, a coal ‘slurry’ pond in Eastern Kentucky released coal sludge that spewed 30 xs’s more containments than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. (Reece, 2006). The Clean Air Task Force came out with a report that concluded “coal-fired power plants account for 30,000 deaths per year” (Reece 2006). 2001- ThisIPCC’s announcement had important implications for future actions when they announced, "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities." (Rosenthal & Revkin 2007)
President G.W. Bush Jr. hires Dave Lauriski, a former executive of a large coal company, to head MSHA (Goodell 2006). Essentially, a person who profited from the coal industry is given federal reigns monitor environmental and safety issues. “The Clean Coal Initiative (CCPI)”- On May 17, President Bush announced his support and funding into “clean coal technologies’ (DOE 2004). This marks the governments stance to use cheap coal for securing U.S. energy needs. 2002- President G.W. Bush revealed the Clear Skies Initiatives, a proposal will “allow 42 million more tons of pollution emitted [from coal plants] than the EPA” had currently recommended (Wikipedia, 2007). Although the levels of toxins and particulate matter being emitted are significantly reduced under the program, CO2 is not monitored. 2003- Oct. 23, 2003- NASA presents spatial analysis data of sea ice melt from 1979-2003. Unique in its nature, the study was funded to provide evidence of global climate change. 2004- Secretary of Energy and Florida governor Jeb Bush publicizes funding to support Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) technologies to meet the State’s future energy demands. The state received $2 billion out of $235 billion (DOE 2004). Dave Lauriski resigned his top position as chief of the MSHA under “a cloud of scandals” (Goodell 2006). 2005- The Kyoto Protocol was “entered into force on 16 February, 2005)”. (UNFCCC 2006) Alongside China, the U.S. did not ratify the amendment. G8 Summit The next “Coal Rush”, in a report by the EPA, they estimated that “mountain- top mining will double in the next ten years” (Shnayerson 2006). 2006- The Sago coal mine disaster angered many people, and raised questions about the MSHA “competency and willingness to enforce mining laws” (Goodell 2006). FPL filed for a new “coal-powered facility (ultra-supercritical)…in Glades County” (Environment Florida 2007). According to same resources, the plant will add “over 13 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air annually.” 2006 Clean Air Incentive Initiative (CAII) - EPA proposes a change to the 1995 “Air Toxic Standards”. Facilities that were in constant violation and/or released high levels of pollutants were permanently flagged and had to pay environmental impact fees; the CAII would allow industrial facilities to be able to improve standards to lower impact fees; thus, being able to change status level.(EPA 2006) With over 1,400 power plants in the country, many of which are outdated allows investing in old/revamped technologies that still have considerable pollutants. Tampa Electric Company (TECO) a product of the Clean Coal Initiative is one of the worse mountain-top removal companies in Eastern Kentucky. According to Reece (2006), “blasting and flooding has ruined hundreds of houses and displaced families”. In December, FP&L submitted a proposal to government officials for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Moore Haven, FL (headwaters for the Everglades and Caloosahatchee River) (Everglades face new pollution threat 2007). 2007 In IPCC’s most fearful statement yet, they announced that "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations." (Rosenthal & Revkin 2007) On Jan 30, 2007, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Government Accountability Project (GAP) “has uncovered new evidence of widespread political interference in federal climate science. (February 5, 2007) Cape Coral, FL City Council endorse U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement, and request measures of such accord to be addressed to the mayor.
Bibliography
(2006). Kyoto Provisions. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (UNFCCC). < http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/2877.php>, (2007, February 05). (2007). Agenda For the Regular Meeting of the Cape Coral City Council. < http://www.capecoral.net/citycl/> (2007, February, 15). (2007). Clean Coal Technology Program. Department of Energy (DOE). <http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/cleancoal/86-93prgram.html>. (2007). Everglades face new pollution threat: Coal-burning power plants. Environment Florida. Retrieved on Feb.1 2007 from http://www.environmentflorida.org. (2007). Global Warming Campaign News: Coal Rush Will Dramatically Increase Global Warming Pollution & Challenge Energy Security. Environment Florida. http://www.environemtnflorida.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming=campaign-newswinter07 (2007, February 01) Department of Energy (2004). Secretary Abraham Announces $235 Million for Florida Clean Coal Plant. < http://www.fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2004/tl_ccpi2_southernco.html > (2007, February, 10) Department of Energy (2005). Annual Coal Report: Executive summary. < http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/acr_sum.html > (2007, February.03) Department of Energy (2007). A Brief History of Coal Use. < http://www.fe.doe.gov/education/energylessons/coal > (2007, Feb, 03). Environmental Protection Agency (2006). Amendments to the general provisions for air toxics standards. < http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3/fact_sheets/OIAIproopfs.html > (2007, February 14). Freese, B., & S. Clemmer (2006). Gambling with Coal: How future climate laws will Make new coal power plants more expensive. <http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/gambling_with_coal_final_report_sept_06.pdf.> (2007, February 1). Goodell, Jeff (2006). Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America’s Energy Future. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. NASA (2003). Recent Warming of Artic May Affect Worldwide Climate. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/1023esuice.html (2007, February 3>. Reece, E. (2006).Lost Mountain: Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation of Appalachia. New York: Penguin Group. Rosenthal, E., & A. Revkin (2007, February 3). Science Panel Calls Global Warming ‘Unequivocal’. IPCC’s Fourth assessment of global warming. New York Times. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/science/earth> (2007, February 14). Shnayerson, M. (May, 2006). The Rape of the Appalachia. Retrieved Feb.01, 2007 from <http://www.Vanityfair.com> . Wikipedia (2007). Coke (fuel). < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coke_%28fuel%29 > (2007 February 12). Wikipedia (2007). History of Coal Mining. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_coal_mining > (2007, February 14) |
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Website by Rob Leisure (2007). rmleisur@eagle.fgcu.edu FGCU logo © 2006 |
