Coal Is Needed

Statement

Mr. Speaker, Bjorn Lomborg, one of the world's leading environmentalists, wrote in Monday's Washington Post these words:

"Today, coal accounts for almost half of the planet's electricity supply, including half the power consumed in the United States. It keeps hospitals and core infrastructure running, provides warmth and light in winter, and makes lifesaving air-conditioning available in summer. In China and India, where coal accounts for more than 80 percent of power generation, it has helped to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty."

"There is no doubt that coal is causing environmental damage that we need to stop. But a clumsy, radical halt to our coal use--which is what promises of drastic carbon cuts require--would mean depriving billions of people of a path to prosperity."

"To put it bluntly: despite their good intentions, the activists, lobbyists and politicians making a last-ditch push for hugely expensive carbon-cut promises could easily end up doing hundreds of times more damage to the planet than coal ever could.''

I wish we would heed those words of this environmentalist because if we drastically cut back on coal, we're going to hurt millions of poor people in the process.

Source