The madness of Rome

If you happen to be one of those techno-optimists who believe that our culture can transition to a future powered by benign alternatives by using coal or unconventional carbon-based fuels, you just might want to consider the damage caused by the extraction of these resources. For example, if “clean coal” is your fancy, a little research into the devastation wrought by the mountaintop removal form of surface coal mining might be in order (see here, here, and here). In an effort to find a suitable replacement for conventional crude oil and natural gas, resources that most independent analysts believe will experience peak production soon, if not already in the case of oil, the conventional energy industry has been moving quickly to firmly institutionalize clean coal, natural gas, and petroleum-based alternatives like heavy oils, tar sands, coal derivatives, shale gas, and other sources.

Notwithstanding the very low or negative energy returned on investment for any of these sources, every one of these sources will result in a devastating despoliation of the land surfaces and water resources for a significant area around these sites. The cumulative impact of the maximal extraction from each of these sites could damage thousands square miles of mostly pristine lands and pollute millions of gallons of fresh water. The implications of these actions beyond land and water destruction, if that isn’t enough, include habitat destruction, human disease and death, and a tragic waste of money that could be used to assist us in transitioning to a sustainable culture. I’ll illustrate a few glaring examples of these extractive threats and follow up with the key question.

Energy Bulletin