Thousands Protest Coal

Yesterday in Washington, DC, thousands of people descended on the Capitol's own coal fired power plant to protest coal and demand legislation that fights global warming. On the first real snow day of 2009, over 2,500 protesters showed up, including famed climate scientist James Hansen and artist Will.I.Am.

Coal provides over half of all American generated power. It is a relatively cheap and available resource, but it is a leading contributor to global warming, mercury pollution, sulfur and nitrous oxide pollution (SOx and NOx), as well as mountain top removal. The cumulative effect of burning coal for power are health problems like birth defects associated with mercury pollution, respiratory problems like asthma associated with SOx and NOx pollution, and decimation of mountains and pollution of waterways from mountain top removal mining. So the energy may be cheap, but the price society pays to keep the lights on with coal has become too high.

The protesters at the 99 year-old Capitol Power Plant were peacefully fighting for federal as well as real local action. The plant is not only a symbol of our continued addiction to coal, but also a threat to those of us that live and work in Washington, DC. DC's (non-voting) Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said at the rally that the plant, "has poisoned untold numbers of people who live in the District of Columbia."

Carbonfund.org would like to thank all of our donors who are helping to support clean energy and global warming solutions now. And we would like to give a, "hip-hip-horray!" to all those that braved the elements yesterday to tell Congress that change starts in its own backyard.

(Photo Courtesy of ENS-Newswire)