Taking the Carbon Out of Coal
Carbon capture and sequestration or CCS is a technology that can remove carbon dioxide emitted by a power plant and store it underground. Climate Central visits the site of a proposed coal plant in Linden, NJ to find out how it is done.
What We Know For Sure
No scientist disputes that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and that it is increasing in the atmosphere. And careful detective work shows that the increase has chemical fingerprints—from us.
Georgia: Coal and Carbon
Coal generates carbon dioxide when combusted, which is causing the world to warm. In Georgia, a state that gets over 60 percent of its electricity from coal, some coastal residents are connecting the dots between coal and changes in the local ecology and economy attributed to global warming. Recognizing the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, engineers are exploring "clean coal" technology. What is this technology? Will it work?
Iowa: Corn and Climate
Congress helped bolster the corn ethanol business in Iowa by mandating the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2005. But scientists are concerned about the unexpected consequences of putting more of Iowa's land into corn production—consequences that may make corn ethanol a bigger source of climate—warming gases than regular gasoline.
Montana: Trout and Drought
The flow of water in Montana's rivers is lifeblood for its economy, both through tourism and agriculture. Montana's recreational fishing and agricultural industries depend on cool waters flowing from melting snow high in the mountains throughout the summer. But across Montana, rising temperatures are causing a series of changes.
