This section of the book continued to document the dwindling condition of Lost Mountain and the lives of those negatively affected by mountain top removal. Reece really painted a poor picture of the coal company executives. In this section, Reece discussed how the various actions that occur during mountain top removal projects damage the lives and homes of individuals in the area. The explosions damage the foundations from homes. The removal of trees and vegetation cause floods to occur more often and more severely. These floods cause the destruction of various things including gardens people depend on for food. Reece tells the story of how the numerous destruction of her garden drove her to commit suicide. During these floods, people homes are also filled with mud. The disposal of materials from blast sites and drilling is often disposed of close to streams and other water sources. This causes the water to become too contaminated to drink, swim in, or even support a variety of wildlife. And adding to the problem, the trees and vegetation already removed could've worked to filter out some of these chemicals. The chemicals used during explosions and stirred up in the ground often find their way into the wells people depend on for water. In 2000, toxic sludge broke free into creeks and seriously endangered the lives of any living creature nearby. The event barely got any news coverage according to Reece. When the people try to complain to the coal companies about these various damages, the executives state that it was not their doing and have even called these events the acts of God. The coal companies are also staffed with enough lawyers to scare most people off from bring them to court. It also seems that the coal companies have so many friends within the government to protect them and accelerate their actions.
When it comes to Lost Mountain, Reece witnesses workers blowing up various parts of it and chipping away at it. It is described to look like a wedding cake with various layers instead of a mountain. Reece returns to a spot he had previous stood to find it nothing like it was before. He describes how the black plateau he is standing on was once a ridgeline. The shock seems to become more than he can handle once he realizes he can't see any living thing around him. It had all been scooped up and placed in a fill. Later on, Reece visits an ecovillage and discovers how people are living without the use of coal. They live just fine off of solar power and water from rain. The most striking part of all this to me is that it is stated that wind power from "the eleven Plains states could meet the energy needs of the entire country by harnessing the wind." We are losing our world when we do not have to be losing it. We could get our energy from other sources, but coal is just too easy to use at the moment it seems. I don't know how someone could be able to fund such a transfer of energy sources though with all of the power the coal companies still hold.
"the eleven Plains states could meet the energy needs of the entire country by harnessing the wind." I paused for a second when I read that part of the book... that is a pretty bold statement, considering that wind power isn't expanding very fast and still makes up a very small portion of energy generation. I think Reece should be held accountable for unfounded statements like these. He is ready and willing to sling negative coal statistics but it seems to me that he's pretty vague when he suggests alternatives.
ReplyDeleteI agree that claim is unsubstantiated in the book. If true, it assumes a restructuring of our power grid that has yet to be done. So we are years from that, but on the other hand, his book is not about wind energy and is just pointing out some options.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about all the terrible water problems caused by the blasting I too wonder why the coal companies cannot be prosecuted. Then when you read about all the corruption and the responses of the coal companies you see their true colors. Good point about the wind power harnessing enough energy to power the country.
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