Talk:The Case Against Coal (research notes)

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This is the place to do general brainstorming about the contents of "The Case Against Coal"


--Tednace 01:34, 7 May 2008 (EDT) Here is a proposed title, outline, page count, and schedule for the book. Rather than "The Case Against Coal," I'm proposing that the title of the book be "Coal Is the Enemy of the Human Race." That title is taken from James Hansen's July 2007 essay, which would make an appropriate introduction. The page count of 417 may be conservative, but it would be OK if the book became 450-500 pages. Although the title dispells any nonsense that this is a politically "neutral" book, I do think we should adhere to the highest standards in authoritativeness and tone. The goal is to create a comprehensive and respected reference that finds a place at the elbows of activists, journalists, teachers, students, and policy makers. Like the coalSwarm wiki itself, the book will aid the no-coal movement by consolidating scattered information.


--Tednace 23:21, 14 May 2008 (EDT)May 15, 2008:

The following is a proposed new outline. The idea is break the book into three rather than two sections. Section I (~80 pages) tells the essential story. Section II (~200 pages) provides a state-by-state and country-by-country account. Section III (150 pages) is appendices.

--Tednace 22:28, 4 December 2008 (EST)

How about the title "Fighting Coal: A Handbook for Activists"


Coal Is the Enemy of the Human Race

Introduction by James Hansen


SECTION I - DEADLY POWER (80 pages)

1. A Planetary Crisis

  • This chapter lays out the basic elements of the story: the increasingly urgent climate crisis; the centrality of coal in that crisis; the coal construction boom; the political power of Big Coal; the rise of the anti-coal movement

2. Smoke and Mirrors

  • This chapter summarizes the environmental and human health effects of coal use. It explains the problems with clean coal.

3. Risky Money

  • This chapter lays out the economic and financial case against coal

4. The Pathway Out

  • This chapter lays out an overview for stopping the coal boom, decommissioning the coal fleet, and providing clean alternatives

5. Big Coal

  • This chapter surveys the various sectors and lobbying groups that make up the coal lobby. It also explains Big Coal's lobbying and media approaches.

6. Fighting Coal in the U.S.

  • This chapter summarizes the political scene in the U.S. at the national, state, and grassroots levels. It surveys the players and describes the variety of political approaches including media, federal and state legislation, direct action, and corporate campaigns

7. Fighting Coal Internationally

  • This chapter surveys coal politics within the international civic society and in other major coal using and exporting countries


SECTION II - A DEEPENING MOVEMENT (160 pages)

1. State-by-State Profiles (120 pages)

2. National Profiles (40 pages)


SECTION III - APPENDICES

1. Environmental and Health Effects (24 pages)

  • Mercury
  • Mountaintop removal
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrous oxides
  • Particulates
  • Other toxins
  • Solid wastes
  • Water impacts
  • Reclamation

2. Alternatives to Coal Power (16 pages)

  • Efficiency standards
  • Utility-sponsored conservation programs
  • Decentralized clean energy
  • Wind power
  • Concentrated solar power
  • Geothermal power
  • Nuclear power
  • Other clean power options

3. Profiles of citizen groups (30 pages)

4. Profiles of energy companies (30 pages)

  • Overview
  • Investor-owned utilities
  • Independent power producers
  • Public power agencies
  • Rural electric cooperatives
  • U.S. Air Force
  • Synfuels companies
  • Mining companies
  • Transportation companies
  • Coal lobbying and front groups
  • “Clean coal” marketing campaign

5. The international coal fleet (5 pages)

6. The US coal fleet (5 pages)

7. Proposed coal plants (30 pages)


Page Count

  • Section I - 80
  • Section II - 160
  • Section III - 130
  • Front/back - 30
  • Total - 400

The following is the first round outline, posted May 7, 2008

Coal Is the Enemy of the Human Race

Introduction by James Hansen

I. Coal and the Climate Crisis (10 pages)

  • Climate impacts of coal plants
  • How much time do we have?

II. Other Environmental and Health Effects of Coal (24 pages)

  • Environmental impacts
  • Mercury
  • Mountaintop removal
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrous oxides
  • Particulates
  • Other toxins
  • Solid wastes
  • Water impacts
  • Impacts on human health
  • Federal air pollution regulations
  • Federal water pollution regulations
  • Federal reclamation regulations

III. Coal Utilization Technologies (14 pages)

  • Pulverized coal combustion
  • Integrated gasification combined cycle
  • Carbon capture and sequestration
  • “Clean coal” technology
  • Synthetic fuels
  • Coalbed methane
  • Waste coal utilization

IV. The Economics and Financing of Coal (15 pages)

  • How coal plants are financed
  • The changing economics of coal
  • Coal as a risky investment
  • Citizen action against banks and other coal backers

V. Alternatives to Coal Power (16 pages)

  • Overview of alternatives
  • Efficiency standards
  • Utility-sponsored conservation programs
  • Decentralized clean energy
  • Wind power
  • Concentrated solar power
  • Geothermal power
  • Nuclear power
  • Other clean power options

VI. Decommissioning Scenarios (10 pages)

  • Principles for international decommissioning
  • Decommissioning US coal
  • Coal and jobs

VII. Citizen Activism (21 pages)

  • Grassroots organizing
  • Nonviolent direct action
  • Financial pressure
  • Corporate campaigns
  • Media activism
  • Moratorium movement
  • Coal plant cancellations

VIII. International Coal Politics (8 pages)

  • International institutions
  • Global climate negotiations

IX. National and Regional Profiles (42 pages)

  • Australia
  • Britain
  • Canada
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • New Zealand
  • Russia
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • United States

X. U.S. State Profiles (150 pages)

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • etc.

XI. Big Coal (22 pages)

  • Overview
  • Investor-owned utilities
  • Independent power producers
  • Public power agencies
  • Rural electric cooperatives
  • U.S. Air Force
  • Synfuels companies
  • Mining companies
  • Transportation companies
  • Coal lobbying and front groups
  • “Clean coal” marketing campaign

Appendices

  • The international coal fleet (5 pages)
  • The US coal fleet (5 pages)
  • Proposed coal plants (30 pages)
  • Company profiles (20 pages)
  • Citizen groups (10 pages)

Page Count

  • Main sections - 317
  • Appendicies - 70
  • Front/back matter - 30
  • Total - 417

Schedule

  • May / June / July - create content
  • August / September / October - fact check and edit for book
  • November / December - copyedit, format, index
  • January - at printer
  • publication: February 1, 2009
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