OP-ED
Monday, September 28, 2009
Kentucky can live without coal
By Leah Missik
When I was in fourth grade I visited Pine Mountain. I still remember hiking to the top and looking out at other mountains that had been ravaged by strip mining. Even then, the sight made me angry. Though our state has long been dependent on coal for energy, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Years later, as a sophomore college student I attended Power Shift, a nationwide youth-led conference on global warming held in our nation’s capital.
At first, I was a bit surprised at the amount of focus Kentucky was given. However, it quickly became clear that while much of the nation is moving forward, Kentucky is still stuck in the energy politics of the past, destroying our water and mountains for a product that is on the decline around the nation. One of the factors slowing our nation’s ability to lead a clean energy economy is the strong influence coal companies have on the political system, both in Kentucky and nationally.
It’s also striking that Kentucky’s flagship university, the University of Kentucky, has an old, dirty, almost unregulated coal plant right on campus. UK and universities around the nation need to lead the green generation by switching to a clean energy source not only for the sake of the student but also to help ensure a long-term, viable economy.
Coal plants are a serious contributor to global warming, producing 40 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions. They create hazardous by-products such as coal ash, which is stored along almost every major river in Kentucky and is a leading cause of asthma and other health issues.
That’s why this past summer I committed myself to spending time back home in Kentucky working to try to help move the state forward. I was lucky enough to secure a volunteer summer internship with the Sierra Club’s Kentucky Beyond Coal Campaign.
After spending much of my summer reviewing the economics of coal and its broader impacts, I know a lot of the claims about coal being necessary for Kentucky are false. The industry is full of hidden expenses, and actually costs Kentucky more money than it gives back. To add to this, imminent federal legislation will likely make coal even more expensive. Our current reliance on coal not only drags back the nation in combating climate change, but harms local communities. Dependence on coal has put Kentuckians’ health at risk.
However, it has been shown that Kentucky could develop thousands of new jobs through investing in green, renewable energy. I studied for a month in Germany, the world’s leader in solar energy. Many people bemoan that Kentucky does not receive enough sunlight to make solar energy worthwhile, but it receives much more than Germany.
In the end, the reason I am so passionate about this subject is because I am concerned for the future. A transition in Kentucky toward clean energy needs to begin now, creating jobs while significantly reducing pollution and costs.
I want my home state to contribute to America’s steps to combat climate change and lead a clean energy economy at home and in the world. The future is upon us and we have the ability to decide how it will unfold. That is why I urge others, young people especially, to do their part to help create a better future for Kentucky, America and the world.
Leah Missik of Danville is a student at Kenyon College in Ohio.