Soundbites
Environmental protesters have been targeting a coal-fired power station in Kent over the past few months and are also objecting to plans to build new “clean coal” units there. Should we be relaxed about using coal as a cheap and native fuel source for our energy needs? Or should we leave the coal in the ground until clean technology has developed further?
If the UK doesn’t build power stations soon, there will be riots when the power cuts start. Let’s stop arguing about which technology we need and get going.
Jim Noakes, Kettering, Northants
We should continue to fund research in clean technology. When it is ready, then we can use native coal. In the meantime, there is alternative clean energy available.
Jim Yip, Huddersfield
Use coal efficiently and cleanly in power stations, use renewables where possible, use oil and gas for transport and domestic use until fusion comes on stream with limitless energy, when wars will stop, religions settle their differences, and pigs have wings.
Martin Roberts-Jones, Chandlers Ford
Yes, we should use coal, but only if the whole process, including mining, treatment of waste gases and disposal of fly ash, is truly clean and economic. Fly ash is rich in nasty, toxic heavy metals.
John Holburt, Woodmancote, Glos
Coal left underground until clean fuel is developed will stay there forever. We will get very cold in the meantime! Use coal carefully as required.
Jonathan Knew, Tamworth, Staffordshire
Britain led the world in clean coal technology as far back as the 1980s with the PFBC pilot project at Grimethorpe, Yorkshire. It is timely that the UK takes a serious look at such technology.
John Francis, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
We need to start building power stations NOW – coal-fired and nuclear. Let’s develop the technology – before someone else does.
Ian Marks, Rugby, Warwickshire
Start building now! If something better comes along, we can use it as back-up for heavy demand periods, but if we run out of generating capacity it will make the credit crunch look like a minor blip!
Humph Jones, Tidworth, Wiltshire
We have to develop better ways to burn water (hydrogen and oxygen), surely this is the way forward, as all we’ll be putting back into the atmosphere is water (mainly). Bring back steam… it worked for the Victorians, and with technology today we could really make it work again.
A Steam Engineer, Cheltenham, Glos
Coal is readily available so there are environmental and economic reasons for using it. Perhaps the environmentalists should be shut in a coalmine for a few hours with miners whose jobs they are trying to take away.
Jeremy Pullin, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos
Is the coal used in Kent native? There is little justification for using coal as a large-scale source of energy unless we can be sure it isn’t imported and thereby contributes to the security of the UK’s energy supply.
Kate Taylor, Liphook, Hampshire
I wonder if these are the same people who protest against nuclear power? As gas reserves dwindle, this leaves coal and nuclear as the only options. Neither is without environmental drawbacks, so a balanced construction programme with emphasis on the minimisation of environmental impact seems appropriate.
Ian Chatterton, Glossop, Derbyshire
All fossil fuels should be preserved as much as possible until cleaner technologies are developed. In the near term, our increasing energy demand should be met in the main by nuclear power and to a lesser extent reliable renewables. Research into fusion power should be heavily invested in.
Jim Harken, Cleator Moor, Cumbria
Cleaner, more efficient coal-fired power should be promoted by legislation in preference to less abundant natural gas which should be conserved for purposes such as domestic heating (using CHP).
Ian Gilbert, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
Coal rather than nuclear! The highest priority should be to reduce the world’s use of energy. It should be highly priced.
Janet James, Wokingham, Berkshire
There will be an energy gap. Unless we are prepared to let the lights go out, this has to be filled with something. If the government continues to sit on the fence the answer will be gas – a disgraceful waste of a prime fuel, not to mention the security implications. Coal is needed.
John Attree, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
The threat of cold turkey at Christmas and the “crash” may force events and overcome Nimby tendencies!
John Hadland, Great Glen, Leicester
The environmental lobby are very good at saying no – they must have taken lessons from Ian Paisley. Until they can detail the alternative and prove that it works on the scale required to replace fossil fuel or nuclear, they will not be taken seriously.
James Adamson, Aberdeen
Where else will we get our electricity from once existing nuclear and coal stations become obsolete? Unless, of course, we are all prepared to ration electricity use?
James Thorpe, East Kilbride
There’s a place for coal-fired power because a “cheap and native” fuel source provides security of supply. I certainly don’t want to be reliant on Mr Medvedev’s goodwill for my heating.
Kay Silver, Chelmsford, Essex
If we can burn coal cleanly then let us do it and export the technology to China.
John Dealey, St Albans, Hertfordshire
© PE Publishing, 26 November 2008
