The court-ordered environmental review of Colowyo mine has determined the operations do not create a significant environmental impact, contradicting what the lawsuit brought by WildEarth Guardians sought to prove.
To paraphrase the off-color response of those radical environmentalists when they thought their lawsuit would close the mine and eliminate jobs: Our initial response to WildEarth is, tough sh!t.
Interior officials completed the work in record-setting time to beat the Sept. 6 deadline, and released the details of the environmental review on Tuesday. It awaits the signature of Secretary Sally Jewell before going back before Federal District Judge R. Brooke Jackson.
Colowyo Spokesman Drew Kramer said in a statement to Peak Politics that they appreciated the diligence and hard work of the Office of Surface Mining to complete the work within the court-ordered timeframe.
“We’re also tremendously thankful for the way the communities of northwest Colorado rallied and spoke up to defend their economic livelihoods – their voices made a big difference in this process,” Kramer said.
The new environmental assessment reduces the tonnage of coal mined and the total footprint of the operations, but “reflects what Colowyo originally proposed” to accomplish.
We encourage Jewell and Jackson to sign off on the environmental review, and put an end to the looming economic crisis that WildEarth Guardians sought so desperately to create.
More coal is dead.
http://bloom.bg/1PlQlfj
Mines in America's Coal Country Just Sold for a Total of Nothing
What did your imaginary friend have to do with the decision?
Nothing!
I'm gonna help Nick Davis out here because my job, just slightly north and east of you, relies on coal to provide for my family. Just a fun fact Dave Barnes, it takes 220 metric tons of coal to produce just 1 wind mill. If your not familiar with how much 220 tons of coal is, it is enough to fill one of the largest coal hauling trucks in the world, with 12 ft tall tires, 35 ft wide, and almost 100 ft long. I would bet money it is most likely larger than your liberal, off the grid, eco friendly house. So in closing, do a little research before you open your libtard mouth.
Nick Davis
If you really want to plan for the future, then you woud leave all the coal in ground. During the next millenium-long Dark Ages humans will need easy access to coal to get civilization restarted. You do know that everything is about to collapse?
We agree to disagree.
You think coal will still be used in 2065.
I don't.
I think that the 14K people living in Moffat County should be planning for a coal-free future.
I think that you can emulate Salida or Leadville. Your choice.
Dave Barnes
I do believe that Coal Power will still be a needed in 2065. Unless something new is engineered. Why are we so quick to dismiss the natural resources that we have complete access to? Why can we not plan for the future in the traditional way of doing things? Ever heard of "If it isn't broke don't fix it"? Transition to what? Solar and Wind? Those two don't have the intial push to power the grid. Unless you want our whole United State, one big solar/wind farm.
Good! I am glad that the mines are creating less of a negative enviromental footprint and that all those families can keep their jobs. I do believe there should be checks and balances or some companies do what they like at the expensive of those living around the area. Think of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in Hinkley, Calif or Tom's River in NewJersey. Sounds like Colowyo has met the checks and balances and I am sure that is a great releaf for all families involved.
BillandLoretta Bird
http://www.forbes.com/sites/thomaslandstreet/2015/08/28/soros-doesnt-like-coal-stocks-he-likes-money/
Barnes Dave We are making that decision, and it is to push back on the left wing that, is trying to dictate the future of the energy industry, on a belief in climate change. You sir need to realize the impact of the words you choose to vocalize and the weight the can bear. You shouldn't not form an opinion on a topic in which you have no significant knowledge on. Maybe I should spread foul words about the job you choose to do. What if my shoe was on your foot, would you throw your hands up and say that it was a good run? Never the less I appreciate the exchange. Have a good day Sir.
I have nothing to propose. You need to make the decisions that are right for you and greater Craig.
Angela Poe
Where did I post something from "the WEG's [sic]"?
I have never claimed to be "an environmentalist".
I live in Denver, not California.
I do understand the electic grid and why we need baseload generation. I just happen to prefer nuclear power for that task.
You need to educate yourself on US coal and global markets. I'm not going to do it for you. Steam coal is still very much alive in our nation.
Everytime you post something from the WEG's it just shows that you are willing to LIE, even on court documents, to try to prove your false points… There is documented prove that removing Coal Mines from the USA is not going to stop (the widely disputed) global warming that WEG claimes coal, oil and grazing (along with people using the wildlands) is causing. The fact that scientist do not even agree on it shows your lack of thought process! Like so many above have pointed out… you are merely a lacky, a tool, an imbecile, etc for WEG… You are one of those fake environmentalist that do not have a clue what is truly going on in the world… let alone here in Colorado, you hear "green" and you automatically assume that it is Perfect and Great for all of us. Let me guess, you're from California and you believe that CA should not dam up all the fresh water that they are releasing into the ocean and then you turn around and blame the government, oil, gas and coal for the drought in CA! Do you understand the Elec Grid and WHY solar and wind NEED coal and gas? Do you understand the devastating effects that wind and solar have had on the wildlife and environment? Apparently NOT! If you truly cared about the environment and the economy of the United States then you would be pushing for energy diversification… which would include COAL! I can post ANTI-WEG crap all day… Like the fact that they abuse a loop-hole in the law to use TAXPAYER funds to file frivilous lawsuits… sometimes at a rate of 1 a week! Then US tax payers again get to fund the governement to defend themselves and us against this frivilous lawsuit! And then utilities companies that if effects, we again as energy consumers, get to pay for the lawsuit a THIRD time!
Barnes Davis, stop being a puppet for such a shady cowardly group… A group that pays themselves, not their lackies, very well while stealing from American TaxPayers!
Bonnie Turner, If you need more info about this let me know…
PLEASE SHARE THIS:
What would it take to replace the Craig Power Plant if the POS's from WEG got their way and it was shut down…
The typical solar panel (photovoltaic panel or PV) is 2 x 4 foot and generates 75 Watts at high noon on a clear summer day. The average annual capacity factor for PV in Colorado is 14%. It would take 120 million PV panels to equal the output of the Craig Station. The surface area of the panels would be 963 million sq. ft. A PV array of this size would need access roads, which are estimated to increase the land coverage by 10%. Total land area needed would be 1.1 billion sq. ft., or 24,000 acres, or 38 sq. miles.
The capital cost for PV panels, supports, batteries, inverters, etc. is about $5 per watt. The total cost for a PV array equal in electrical output to Craig Station would be about $45 billion, not including land.
Large wind turbines at wind farms require about 36 acres per MW. The annual capacity factor for wind turbines at a good site is about 27%. The size of a wind farm equal in electrical output to the Craig
Station would be about 169,000 acres or 263 sq. miles.
The capital cost for wind turbines is about $950/kW. The cost for wind turbines equal to the energy output of Craig would be about $4.4 billion. This doesn’t include land or leases.
Could you imagine the EYESORE these fields would be?
Could you imagine the negative impact it would have on Colorado's beautiful landscape and the wild life that these losers claim to protect?
American NEEDS energy diversification… America NEEDS COAL!
Chris Hainault No. I live in Denver.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/07/solar-has-won-even-if-coal-were-free-to-burn-power-stations-couldnt-compete
What kills me is that all the environmentalists protest coal with a device that is powered by coal. Their Chevy volt that is so clean on the environment, powered by coal. The protest sign that they hold up, is a dead tree that takes carbon out of the air. It was cut down with fossil fuels, and made in a plant that more and likely use coal for the production of paper. How about the windmills that they think are going to save the earth? Those dam things could spin till they fall apart, and they would not reduce the amount of carbon that was put in the air to make it.
Nick, can you post a link with that data…I've been trying to explain that to some folks, but am not finding the data…good or bad…
And pay much higher utility bills because of all this crap!!!!
WEG will be in court about all of this very soon, you can bet on it. That is what they do. They are lawyers or marketing people. WEG doesn't pay lawyers, WEG is Lawyers. They are probably sitting around a big table right now figuring strategy for their next day in court to say that the review was done to quickly and can't be right. At the same time the boy/girls in the marketing team are on the phone with their rich donors cry the blues how they are still on the fight and could use support. Dumb asses like Dave give their trust fund money to these causes so they can brag about how they are fighting the climate change agenda. As long as gullible people are born to the Daves of the world it's a perpetual machine. When interest dwindles they find another issue an keep themselves paid and fed at other peoples grief.
We are the real west, not pretend, like most of Colorado. It is enlightening to know that there are people like you who still believe they are so much better than every one else that they need to take away others rights. You are a flow of freedom and equality. I am sure you are a back breaking, hard working human being with ethics and morals that you can sit on high. Good gracious, do wear a sign when you first visit the west. We take the second amendment seriously.
If Barnes Davis's comment were true we'd be living in tents again by now. I'd have to see some real documentation to believe anything he has said. The US shipped more coal to power plants in 2014 than any time in history. I've been in the industy for 40 years, worked in most of the big producers properties in that time, and they still keep our lights and air conditioning on. That's more than you can say for wind or solar, it's still dark at night, and sometimes the wind doesn't blow, other than when all these liberals start talking at the same time.
I work for the power plant in Craig. Dave you are an imbecile. We have enough.coal in the ground to sustain electricity for 500 years at current rates. Shut them down and you will be raising electric rates by almost 6 times. There will also be rolling brown puts because we do not have enough renewable energy resources to supply the grid. Do you see the USA using less energy? No the demand on the grid is still growing. Climate change is a joke and not caused by coal. Why don't you go lobby over in China where they commission new coal fired.power plants every 2 to 3 weeks. China foes not have an epa so these new.power plants do not have emission control devices like we do. Let me ask you something…where does the polluted air from China end up?? Educate yourself a little bit before replying to something you clearly do not understand.
Whst new source of jobs are u talkin obout . Theirs no other sources available. Moron….!!!
Does that make u fell good .to put people out of work.????
The eathers lose another sound reasoning by sane people, not politicans!
We need to keep better track of these Morons" The WEG they are dangrous and dont know what the hell they are talking about, Moffat , Routt and Rio Blanco need to form a group to follow every stupid move they try to make in the future.for they dont know what they are doing.
Parts of his statement is true tho. The powers that be are shuting down mines and power plants or making them go to natural gas……which isn't a happy thought.
I don't believe our mine will soon die an economic death tho. And yes, it would be nice if we could get some new businesses in Craig, everyone who lives here thinks that. But we'll not die an economic death any time soon.
I agree Chad, did you know that to supply the same amount of electricity that our Power plant here in craig provides, we would need 263 sq. miles of wind farm and 38 sq. miles of solar fields? How beautiful would that be in the mountains of Northwest Colorado? How would enviromentalist feel about the deforestation/habitat removal of all the precious animals? There is no perfect answer here, but the only thing they have against the mining of coal is global warming…. oh wait it's not called that any more…. "Climate Change."
Some one needs to make sure this stupidity doesnt happen again. There and evvwey where else .glad the courts have set things atraight.
Thank the good Lord for answering so many prayers …
I would rather look at a coal mine than look at these ugly a$$ windmills that are killing birds left and right and what about those solar gardens that take up all of that wildlife habitat
Now… if only the judge would get on the ball and make his ruling. We need to get back to our lives and quit worrying about idiots like WEG disrupting our community.
Of course not, he's most likely a WEG plant!! And knows absolutely NOTHING about Craig or our economy.
Are you from craig?
What do you propose we do, Mr. Barnes? Would you like us to change our entire infrastructor in the town of Craig? A town that has existed off the economic benefits of harvesting natural resources? A town of 10,000 residents, most of whom ranched before they started mining in the valley. Ranching is no longer a viable means of living as well, because of over regulation. Have you been to my hometown to witness the lack of "New sources of jobs"? The largest corporate vendor we have here is Wal-mart, the rest small time businesses. Our average frost-free days is 98, 3+ months to grow any type of produce, does that seem like a feasable idea? So I ask again Mr. Barnes what do you propose our town needs to do, to "Move on"?
"Over the past five years, 300 U.S. coal mines have shut down, more than 200 coal-fired power plants have closed up shop, 25 coal companies have gone bankrupt and others may soon follow suit, and the fossil fuel divestment movement is succeeding at universities, municipalities and elsewhere, including investment funds."
This means the mine can soon die an economic death.
Coal is dead. Greater Craig needs to move on to new sources of jobs.