Thanks, Nicole, for this informative article. It is time for the citizens of Utah to stand up and voice their opposition to more coal-fired plants in Utah. We have enough pollution, don't you think? Why would we even consider allowing more from coal power? There are alternative sources, such as geothermal, which Utah is prime for, that can supply any power needs we require. Pollution is so damaging to our health - let alone to the environment.

Here's a thought; power companies can only build a new coal-fired plant if they build at the same time a renewable plant (solar, geothermal, or wind) of equal capacity.

Environmentalist appear to oppose any use or development of coal. The main "environmental" arguement is that additional power isn't needed--that's just plain studied ignorance. The US population isn't shrinking, it's expanding--along with that comes additional power consumption.

As gas & oil exploration (along with nuclear energy) have been stymied by "environmentalists," what's left?

Ecology focuses on the smallest disturbance of nature in obtaining needed resources. Environmetist are primarily driven by the mentality of "not in my backyard." Oil exploration by Russia, with limited environmental oversight, appears to be okay on one side of the Bering Strait, but drilling with a 1000 watchdog groups on 10 acres of Anwar isn't. US drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is bad--but Chinese drilling in the SAME location is okay? As I've never heard the Serria Club protested foreign oil exploration, I guess so.

In this instance, the waste coal is already dug. The environmentalist approach of digging pits to bury it again is a far less ecologically sound approach; developing technology to efficiently & productively use waste coal is obviously better to everyone concerned about the land, animals and conservation--"environmentalists" opposition speaks volumns about where their concerns lay--not in my backyard!

Before Waxman stops the construction of a power plant in Utah, he needs to shut down about 15 power plants and all cars in southern California. The haze over southern Utah�s national parks is all blown in from LA. But that means he�d have to clean up his own back yard first. It�s so easy to complain about the neighbors when you ignore the dead refrigerator and rusted DeSotos parked in your own front yard.