The problem with coal is that its dirty, even if you ignore the global warming stuff, we've all seen the pictures of smog covered London, and the illnesses that went with it. Pre election and just after, the Tories were very keen on "carbon capture", which would address many of the issues. The waste from burning coal is collected and pumped out into the vast cavities under the North sea where we have removed the gas and oil. It would have been a good move politically as the Torys could then say they were opening up mining again in the UK. It would create loads of jobs and lessen our dependency on gas. Problem is, it needs billions spending on it and the Govt. can't afford it, and the private sector don't seem keen to spend the money either, though I'm sure something will happen further down the pipeline...excuse the pun.
This issue reminds me of a Question Time a couple of months back. Prescott was on for Labour, can't remember who was on for Cons, and then the various other members of the panel. A question came up about energy and the various other members all disagreed with each other, either in favour or against nuclear, in favour or against wind turbines, even Greenpeace can't decide which side of the fence they are on. But Prescott and the Con were in complete agreement in that its easy when you have no responsibility to say you don't approve of this or that, but when you are in a position of running the country and decisions matter sometimes you have to be pragmatic, and the only sensible solution is a mix of all the available options.
Prescott then went on to say that they, Labour, found it very difficult in the early years of Blair Govt. because what ever they wanted to do with energy, some opposition group would attack them, and bottom line for politicians is they don't like bad press. He said they came under immense pressure from mining unions and those on the left which resulted in in-activity.
The longer that in-activity goes on, the bigger the problem gets, and the more expensive the solution will be.
