TriplePlaid

joined 2 days ago
[–] TriplePlaid@wetshav.ing 10 points 5 hours ago

It is also the most serious contributor to acid rain.

https://www.gem.wiki/Sulfur_dioxide_and_coal

The EPA estimates that more than 65%, or over 13 million tons per year, of SO2 production in the U.S. comes from electric utilities, 93 percent of which is produced by coal power plants.

[–] TriplePlaid@wetshav.ing 11 points 9 hours ago (5 children)

"Miners with black lung disease, meanwhile, have had to the Trump administration’s move to roll back safety protections for the coal industry..."

From OSMRE website:

Each year, OSMRE transfers more than $1 billion to the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds to support health care and pension benefits for eligible coal miners and their beneficiaries.

The US spends billions every year subsidizing coal and paying for the toll it takes on coal workers' health. And yet, the MAGA folks I know seem to be more supportive of coal than they were 5 years ago. Like a lot more.

I don't get how this plays in MAGA favor when the coal miners themselves are getting shafted and when coal energy represents a complete and total grift - exactly the same type of stuff that had these same folks so excited about Trump and Musk cutting government programs. Any argument for coal falls apart immediately because natural gas is better in almost every way.

Why are these "coalfare kings" getting away with it?

[–] TriplePlaid@wetshav.ing -2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I understand the downvotes on my comment, I guess it was in poor taste, not every joke is a good joke. I am however genuinely confused by the intent behind your reply.