The coal industry and it's allies continue to deceive the American public by lauding coal as the solution to America's energy
problems.
Here's the truth of the matter:
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Coal is devastating to public health
Scientists have linked coal fired-power plant emissions
to premature death
Coal mining creates smog which causes a wide range of
symptoms from increased asthma attacks to premature death.
Emissions from coal fired power plants induce similar
symptoms and additionally contaminate our drinking water
with mercury and various other metals. Toxic coal
combustion waste remains largely unregulated, often
disposed of in unlined pits or old mines where pollution
can leach into our drinking water supplies. |
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Coal is devasting to the environment
Longwall mining - which is practised in SW PA - literally
undermines communities and ecosystems, damaging people's
homes and business and stripping away our natural water
resources. Impacts from current and historic mining
continue to impact our landscape today in the form of
abandoned mine lands, acid mine drainage, and waste coal
piles. Coal fired power plant emissions account for 40%
of our nation's carbon dioxide pollution, which is a
known contributor to climate change and was recently
acknowledged by the EPA as a public health threat.
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Coal is devastating to the economy
Coal mining communities often experience pervasive and enduring poverty, despite the empty promise of coal-related jobs. In Pennsylvania, the top coal-producing county, Greene, also has the highest poverty rate. As coal companies continue to shift toward increased mechanization and the elimination of workers, the promise of jobs in rural coal communities becomes even more false. According to the Energy Information Agency, since 1985 nearly two out of every three coal mining jobs in Pennsylvania have been lost with only an 8% reduction in the total amount of coal mined.. *1 *2
In the long term, coal jobs that have been lost can
effectively be replaced by green jobs. *3
Rather than continuing to rely on this fundamentally
destructive fossil fuel, let's work together to create a
healthy, coal-free future for our families.
What does a Coal-Free Generation mean for you?
A Coal Free Generation represents a new future for Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. Communities will no longer watch as their streams, rivers, and lakes are polluted by mining, coal burning, and coal waste disposal. Our rural economies will recover as the generation of clean energy begins to generate reliable, well-paying jobs. We will work with communities to find ways to clean up the devastation left from coal's legacy in our state. Our energy will be sourced cleanly in the USA and its generation will no longer negatively impact public health, the environment, and the economy.
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Join the Coal-Free Generation!
Join the Coal-Free Generation and help to protect our communities from the harmful effects of coal by working to improve our energy efficiency and switching to renewable energy sources. Our combined efforts will truly make a Coal-Free Generation possible - starting right here in Pennsylvania.
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