In the '20s and '30s coal was being extensively used both in industry and for domestic heating. As a result acid rain was not uncommon; it was yellow brown. Since then scrubbers have been deployed and the emmisions can meet the EPA standards. However it has been cheaper to seak other cleaner forms of energy. But we are running out of the easy extractions and having to move to more expensive chist-embedded crude. This extraction uses steam thus there has been another refiner procedure to remove the steam condensed water. Petroleum is getting more expensive rather then cheaper. Today we can not only meet EPA standards but we can convert coal oil to petroleum. Both procedures are expensive to outfit. However, the day will come when outfiting to using coal as a source of energy will become economicaly feasible. But, alas we sold our energy inheritance to China for corporate greed This was done without concerned forsight. Corporations may own the mineral rights to this American endowment, but the coal belongs to the American people. Are we ready for democracy to be replaced by corpocracy?

Ernie Thompson

Blaine