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[jcc273]

Got this letter mass forwarded at work the other day.  I work for an electronic's manufacturer and a big portion of our work is mining equipment and controllers.  We have taken some pretty bad hits from the recent down turn of coal.  It looks like its only going to get worse as the newest proposed EPA regulations will make it impossible to build a new coal plant : /.

Dear Fellow Employee,

As employees of a major company in the mining community, it is important for us to stay abreast of public policy challenges that face our industry.

Domestic coal production is facing many challenges.  While natural gas pricing has caused considerable dislocation in the burn at coal-fired power plants, another challenge is confronting US coal mining – a regulatory proposal from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that, if enacted, may prohibit the construction of any new coal-fired power plants.

The EPA has proposed that any coal-fired power plant built in the future – and only coal-fired, not gas-fired – must deploy or incorporate a yet to-be-proven carbon emissions capture technology.  This requirement alone will actively prevent the construction of any new coal-fired facility in the United States.

While technological advancements are, indeed, the key to climate change control, mandating technological solutions yet to be developed or commercially proven is not a good policy option. Our industry partners are making continued advancements in limiting and cleaning up the emissions from coal fired plants.  From 1970 to 2012, the utility industry has reduced the so-called “regulated pollutants” (nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, particulate matter, mercury) by more than 89%, having spent $103 billion to equip plants with emission control technologies.  For the period 2012 to 2016, the power industry is spending a further $35 billion in implementing additional technologies. Joy Global fully supports these initiatives as part of our commitment to be socially responsible in the world we live and work.
Probably the best example of our industry being proactive to reduce CO2 emissions is the FutureGen Alliance, a venture in which Joy Global is partnering with Alpha Natural Resources, Anglo American, Glencore Coal, Peabody Energy, and the US Department of Energy. Sean Major, Joy Global’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary is the current Chairman of the FutureGen Alliance. The project is located 350 miles south of Milwaukee in western Illinois.  It involves the repowering of a coal burning generating plant to test and commercialize the most advanced coal-generation plant in the world – coupled with large scale geologic CO2 storage.  The project’s goal is to prove the science of capturing CO2 emissions and burying the CO2 deep underground.  We are in the “build” phase of this project, with an eye towards project completion in 2017.
Today, though, EPA’s proposed rule is calling for a solution that is not reasonable and is not a path that makes sense for our country and development of its abundant coal resources.

I urge you to write to your Congressman and Senators and ask them to take action to stop this unreasonable EPA regulation.  A special area on JGN has been developed through which you can send an email letter to your representatives.  You can either send the prepared letter under your name or you can modify the letter as you feel appropriate.  You can also compose your own letter to send.  The portal also has an easy lookup for your Senators and Congressman.  Please click here, to go directly to the JGN Government Affairs and Issues page, click the “Action Alert” box located at the bottom of the page.  Follow the prompts to submit your support letter. 
In addition, I ask you to write to the EPA and state your opposition to these unfair regulations.  Our industry trade association, National Mining Association (NMA), has created a special online portal, www.countoncoal.org, which provides a direct link to EPA to record your comment and opposition to the regulation. 

Taking action is important for our company, for our customers, and for our country.  I urge you to join in this effort. Thank you for your time and attention, and I look forward to communicating with you in the future as important issues of public policy arise.

Sincerely,
Ted Doheny

So they will shut down coal then in a couple years after this huge upturn in NG they will decide to much pollution is coming form that and shut that down... then what?  We are supposed to live on solar and wind power?  We also make controllers for wind turbines and that business is dead, the cost vs. power production results is something that doesn't work into the black.  The only reason they were being built was because of government subsidies (which have now expired).  And before this job i worked in the Nuclear Industry, and that is some nice clean power production but all the red tape and unknowledgeable public fear makes it very expensive and hard to build a new one.  What a world we live in : /.

[mlappin]

This country is supposed to run on pixie dust and unicorn farts, just ask any greenie.

[steve.b]

This country is supposed to run on pixie dust and unicorn farts, just ask any greenie.

    Now that's funny.

[oldchenowth]

The government will take care of us.  They know what is best for us, because we are too stupid to think for ourselves.  I already have a stock pile of pixie dust and unicorn farts.  Beneath my money tree orchard.  Yes, orchard.  Livin' large!

[coolidge]

Pixie dust and Unicorn farts are now on the Gov. list of controlled substances.

[slimjim]

NICE COOLIDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                LIKE BUTTON???

[slimjim]

I almost choked on my cigar with that one!

[martyinmi]

I almost choked on my cigar with that one!

I heard the EPA is also attempting to eliminate cigar smoking.
All cigars manufactured after Jan 1st 2016 must carry the EPA Farce 1 hang tag.
After Jan 1st 2020, EPA Farce 2 hang tag required.
After Jan 1st 2024, all cigars must carry the EPA Farce 3 hang tag, which requires all cigars to have solar powered ignitions, as well as wind turbine powered, catalytic smoke accumulators, capable of converting smoke into O2.
You can't make this stuff up, can you?    

[coolidge]

Marty,

Is that for right handed cigars only? Left handlers are exempt is some states.

[slimjim]

Roger and I, Left handed

[mlappin]

Roger and I, Left handed

I'm a leftie as well.

http://biblehub.com/judges/20-16.htm


Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

[martyinmi]

mlappin,
I have a sneakin' suspicion slim wasn't referring to which hand might be his dominate one.
Who knows, maybe there will come a time in the future where every day might be April 20th!

[mlappin]

The April 20th reference went right over my head. I suppose I can google it later.

[martyinmi]

The April 20th reference went right over my head. I suppose I can google it later.

It won't go over slim's head!
He and I, I'm sure, both have had colorful youths.
Definitely not the childhood that I want for My 12 year old boy!
I'm very fortunate to still be breathing!

[slimjim]

It didn't get past me!  Thank GOD we both made it this far!