Showing Up
by Kurt Meyer
meyer6601@aol.com
Two-plus decades ago, when Paula and I began envisioning plans for “Tranquillity,” our home in North
Iowa – near my parents, adjacent to property homesteaded by my great-great-grandparents – I had a frank
conversation with Dad. I explained I didn’t want to ever live next to three potential entities: a casino, a
CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation), or a prison.
While there were no plans for such, we agreed that life affords few guarantees. And if an undesirable
neighbor materialized? “Well,” he said, “I guess then we’d fight ’em.”
Shortly after footings were poured for our new home, Dairyland Power Cooperative, in La Crosse,
Wisconsin, posed such a threat. Rural Otranto Township was one of three options under consideration for a
new coal-burning power plant, a site five hundred yards from our front door (even closer to my parents).
Long before our home was finished, we girded for battle.
The possibility of this plant in our quiet community prompted me to devote considerable energy to
understanding electricity generation issues. While not an unbiased observer (ha), I learned much about
coal, its pluses and minuses. The good news: several years later, Dairyland made a strategic corporate
decision: anticipated power needs could be met through other means; no new plant was required.
What brings this to mind is a recent Executive Order signed by the President entitled “Reinvigorating
America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry,” A prominent line: “Our Nation’s beautiful clean coal resources
will be critical to meeting the rise in electricity demand due to the resurgence of domestic manufacturing
and the construction of artificial intelligence data processing centers.” (Another column, perhaps…) At
the EO signing, Trump noted, “I call it beautiful, clean coal – I tell my people to never use the word ‘coal’
unless you put ‘beautiful, clean’ before it.”
In addition to waiving air pollution limits and other coal regulations, Trump instructed the Justice
Department to confront states fighting climate change by reducing their fossil fuel consumption. Yikes.
Simply stated, coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel, emitting more carbon dioxide than any other. Burning coal also
releases mercury and sulfur dioxide linked to heart disease, respiratory problems, and premature deaths.
Coal mining and coal ash after burning release a cascade of environmental hazards. The President didn’t
cite these consequences.
Myths are important, as are aspirations. Myths can lead to deeper understandings; aspirations can lift hopes
to greater heights. Perhaps the President knows this, since “clean coal” is both a myth AND an aspiration.
Additionally, it’s an oxymoron… a contradictory term, like “only choice,” or “exact estimate.” Sure, we
might arrive at clean coal someday. We might also happen upon a unicorn grazing in the wild. Safe
prediction: neither will happen during the Trump administration. Major economies like ours must sharply
reduce carbon dioxide emissions to avoid even more severe and catastrophic climate episodes.
Reality: Coal as a power source has declined significantly the last two decades NOT due to government
regulation, as Trump suggests, but because natural gas is available, plentiful, cheaper, and less polluting. The
average U.S. coal plant is now 50+ years old – in Iowa, about 40 years – with no new Iowa coal-burning plants envisioned.
Why? Because Iowa relies increasingly on natural gas, wind and solar power, and batteries
for power. (Iowa now generates almost 60% of its electricity through wind.)
Closing story: Three decades ago, I drove a Volkswagen Rabbit diesel, almost 200,000 miles, a car that
obviously served me long and well. Finally, as maintenance became more frequent and costly, my trusty
mechanic came into the room where I was waiting for my freshly serviced vehicle.
“Kurt,” he said, “we COULD continue to service your car. But you’ll soon need a new ‘X,’ which will also
require a new ‘Y,’ and within the next six months, you’ll probably need a new ‘Z,’ all totaling something
like $$$. We appreciate your business… but I thought you should know.” “So, you’re saying it’s time to say
‘enough’?” I asked. “Yeah, I guess I am.” I recall expressing my gratitude.
I’m wondering if this mechanic might be available to visit with the President about coal.
