Top Trump Economic Adviser: Coal Doesn’t Make Sense Anymore

[Crabtownboy]

Donald Trump spent months promising miners that he’d make the ailing coal mining industry great again during his election campaign. But it seems one of the president’s top economic aides has other ideas.

Gary Cohn, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters aboard Air Force One Thursday night that coal “doesn’t make sense anymore,” as he talked up other energy sources.

“Coal doesn’t even make that much sense anymore as a feedstock,” he said, CNN Money reported. Feedstock refers to what’s used to produce energy. Cohn called natural gas a “such a cleaner fuel,” and pointed out that America has become an “abundant producer” of the fossil fuel.

He also praised renewable energy. “If you think about how solar and how much wind power we’ve created in the United States, we can be a manufacturing powerhouse and still be environmentally friendly,” Cohn said.

Cohn’s outlook is far removed from Trump’s campaign chorus about bringing back coal and eliminating regulations to boost jobs. “Miners ... get ready because you’re going to be working your asses off,” he said during a campaign speech a year ago.

Top Trump Economic Adviser: Coal Doesn't Make Sense Anymore | HuffPost

 

[HankD]

Donald Trump spent months promising miners that he’d make the ailing coal mining industry great again during his election campaign. But it seems one of the president’s top economic aides has other ideas.

Gary Cohn, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters aboard Air Force One Thursday night that coal “doesn’t make sense anymore,” as he talked up other energy sources.

“Coal doesn’t even make that much sense anymore as a feedstock,” he said, CNN Money reported. Feedstock refers to what’s used to produce energy. Cohn called natural gas a “such a cleaner fuel,” and pointed out that America has become an “abundant producer” of the fossil fuel.

He also praised renewable energy. “If you think about how solar and how much wind power we’ve created in the United States, we can be a manufacturing powerhouse and still be environmentally friendly,” Cohn said.

Cohn’s outlook is far removed from Trump’s campaign chorus about bringing back coal and eliminating regulations to boost jobs. “Miners ... get ready because you’re going to be working your asses off,” he said during a campaign speech a year ago.

Top Trump Economic Adviser: Coal Doesn't Make Sense Anymore | HuffPost

This is something for which I agree.

There will and must be a transitioning period which could last up to a century.

Coal can be converted to oil and/or gasoline which is a much cleaner proposition.
Yes there are still emissions but not the nasty coal ash floating in the air.

Ultimately we must end the dependency on fossil fuel but we don't have to do it overnight.

The list of contenders to replace oil is long and diverse. Alternative fuels could include next-gen ethanol, algal biofuel, hydrogen and natural gas, or cars could go largely electric.

Bad News: Scientists Make Cheap Gas From Coal

HankD

 

[Lewis]

It is fine to say that coal doesn't make sense from a supply and demand or economic standpoint. It is another to intentionally put coal mines out of business, as Obama tried to do. For now the world needs all of the above.
In the long run, Flammable Ice may be the answer to many of our energy needs.

 

[Crabtownboy]

It is fine to say that coal doesn't make sense from a supply and demand or economic standpoint. It is another to intentionally put coal mines out of business, as Obama tried to do. For now the world needs all of the above.
In the long run, Flammable Ice may be the answer to many of our energy needs.

Not going to happen. Even electric utilities do not want to build new coal fired stations as old ones go out.

Also, trhere is no increasing demand for coal and it takes fewer miners to produce the coal we need. Also production is increasing in other countries at cheaper levels.

The coal industry in not going to make a comeback.

 

[Lewis]

Not going to happen. Even electric utilities do not want to build new coal fired stations as old ones go out.

Also, trhere is no increasing demand for coal and it takes fewer miners to produce the coal we need. Also production is increasing in other countries at cheaper levels.

The coal industry in not going to make a comeback.

In fact some coal mines are reopening and calling back laid off workers. Not on a large scale but it is happening.
The regulations that were enacted during Obama's two terms had an effect on coal mining, as he intended. As a result energy producers increased the use of fracking, and more natural gas availability was the result. Are you happier with that?

 

[rsr]

You make it sound like "energy producers" chose gas over goal. They are different companies. ExxonMobil has no interest in coal; the coal mine owners don't give a flip about gas. The fact is that fracking created an abundance of gas at cheap prices, and it was going to happen no matter what coal regulations were. It is true that regulations dampened enthusiasm for coal-fired electric plants, but price alone put coal at a disadvantage it couldn't overcome.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Having driven yesterday from Santa Barbara to Lake Havasu, I can safely say that there is no shortage of sunshine in the USA and no shortage of desert scrub land. It should be possible to generate huge amounts of solar energy at low cost.

Coal is yesterday's fuel. Trump can help coal miners by providing alternative employment, but not by continuing to mine loads of coal that nobody wants.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Global coal demand will barely grow through 2021, says International Energy Agency

Global coal demand will barely grow through 2021, says International Energy Agency

 

[HankD]

Having driven yesterday from Santa Barbara to Lake Havasu, I can safely say that there is no shortage of sunshine in the USA and no shortage of desert scrub land. It should be possible to generate huge amounts of solar energy at low cost.

Coal is yesterday's fuel. Trump can help coal miners by providing alternative employment, but not by continuing to mine loads of coal that nobody wants.

Coal can be converted to gasoline for a comparable price of crude oil distillation

US Coal to Gasoline Plant Will be the Largest in the World | OilPrice.com

Bad News: Scientists Make Cheap Gas From Coal

While It is a source of polluting emissions this will add to the ability for us to be gasoline independent as a nation while we phase out the gasoline engine.

While we should/must become free from fossil fuel dependence altogether it will be a generation or perhaps two before we break away from the gasoline reciprocating engine.

In the mean time the population must be educated (in a timely way) away from fossil fuel dependence.

HankD

 

[rsr]

I am skeptical about coal-to-gas technology, in the short term, anyway. The thinking assumes that oil prices will rebound; it might make sense with $100 oil, but not with $50 oil. When will oil prices rise? No one knows.

There are also the other environmental effects of coal mining. Do we really want to flatten West Virginia to extract the remaining coal deposits?

 

[HankD]

I am skeptical about coal-to-gas technology, in the short term, anyway. The thinking assumes that oil prices will rebound; it might make sense with $100 oil, but not with $50 oil. When will oil prices rise? No one knows.

There are also the other environmental effects of coal mining. Do we really want to flatten West Virginia to extract the remaining coal deposits?

In my view it is a transitory technology to help ease the way out of fossil fuel consumption.

I don't think West Virginia will be "flattened" by another generation of coal mining.

Maybe, probably not.

Anyone from WV have a comment?

HankD

 

[Lewis]

You make it sound like "energy producers" chose gas over goal. They are different companies. ExxonMobil has no interest in coal; the coal mine owners don't give a flip about gas. The fact is that fracking created an abundance of gas at cheap prices, and it was going to happen no matter what coal regulations were. It is true that regulations dampened enthusiasm for coal-fired electric plants, but price alone put coal at a disadvantage it couldn't overcome.

Even the NY Times pointed out in 2014 that it was Obama's "executive powers" that put coal on the skids. Embedded in all their cheerleading for Obama, they state - "The new regulations could eventually shutter hundreds of coal-fired power plants."
It's not as if the coal industry was struck by an act of God. The last administration made it a priority, and stated it.

 

[Lewis]

In my view it is a transitory technology to help ease the way out of fossil fuel consumption.

I don't think West Virginia will be "flattened" by another generation of coal mining.

Maybe, probably not.

Anyone from WV have a comment?

HankD

Here's what Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) says on the subject-

"Let me just say: What President Trump has been able to help us with, in coal country and in areas where we’ve been doing the heavy lifting all of these years, is help us stabilize by getting rid of these onerous regulations that were just piled on—piled on. We’re always going to have the Clean Water and the Clean Air Act, everybody is for that, but these regulations from EPA weren’t doing anything except piling on and making it so unbearable that nobody could afford coal. So, he stabilized us—okay?"

 

[HankD]

Here's what Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) says on the subject-

"Let me just say: What President Trump has been able to help us with, in coal country and in areas where we’ve been doing the heavy lifting all of these years, is help us stabilize by getting rid of these onerous regulations that were just piled on—piled on. We’re always going to have the Clean Water and the Clean Air Act, everybody is for that, but these regulations from EPA weren’t doing anything except piling on and making it so unbearable that nobody could afford coal. So, he stabilized us—okay?"

What would you expect from a (D)?

Also, at least give it some time before condemning it.

HankD

 

[Happy]

Top Trump Economic Adviser: Coal Doesn't Make Sense Anymore | HuffPost

And? Advisors advise. Trump weighs. Trump decides.

 

[Brad the Baptist]

Huffington Post? *yawn*

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Having driven yesterday from Santa Barbara to Lake Havasu, I can safely say that there is no shortage of sunshine in the USA and no shortage of desert scrub land. It should be possible to generate huge amounts of solar energy at low cost.

Coal is yesterday's fuel. Trump can help coal miners by providing alternative employment, but not by continuing to mine loads of coal that nobody wants.

north Korea wants it.....