Zack Waterman - Regional Field Organizer - Greenpeace USA
Representing the world's largest environmental organization (Greenpeace), discussed the environmental impact of coal in
The Truth About Coal
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Coal accounts for 45 percent of our nation’s electricity.
- Coal-fired power plants are the single largest US source of global warming pollution.
- Texas is the single largest user of coal in the nation
- U.S. consumes more than three tons of coal per person, per year, with per capita electricity consumption almost seven times higher than in China and India combined
Texas Coal Facts
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Texas consumes more coal than any other state in the nation
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In fact, if Texas were its own nation it would rank 6th in the world in cumulative CO2 emissions from 1960-2005 (trailing only China, UK, Russia, and Germany)
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There are currently 12 new coal plants in various stages of permitting and construction, would add over 75 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere
U.S. Lags in Clean-Energy Investment
- US invests only $19 billion annually in renewable energy research and development
- Somehow China gets it. They invest over $35 billion
- U.S. lags behind 10 other countries in clean-energy investments as a share of its national economy (including Mexico, Canada)
What can you do?
- Get involved with Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, or any other number of local environmental groups
- Write a letter to the EPA
- Call your Senator
- Attend TCEQ town hall meeting
- Educate yourself about where your energy comes from and reduce your energy consumption