John Hutton, a business Secretary and cabinet minister in the UK, recently said that coal must remain a part of his nation’s energy system.
Although he wants the UK to lead the world in renewable energy, he argues that some form of coal will be needed to work with renewables. The Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, argue that coal cannot be clean without carbon capture and storage. The problem is that technology is still years away from commercialization and the amount of money the UK is investing in its research is small.
This sparring comes while Hutton’s department is considering an application to build the UK’s first new coal plant in 24 years.
 |
The question the UK and the rest of us have to grapple with is: Is coal a part of our energy future at all? Should coal plants have to commit to carbon capture and storage in order to be approved?
Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.
