In this 5-minute clip from the film, Rolling Stone reporter Jeff Goodell introduces Dr. Julio Friedmann, director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Carbon Management program, an expert on the technology called "carbon capture and sequestration," or CCS. This technology is designed to filter out, or capture, the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal-fired power plants. The idea is that once it’s captured, this CO2 gets compressed to a supercritical liquid state and injected, or sequestered, deep (sometimes around 2 miles deep) into porous sedimentary rock formations where it can be stored indefinitely, theoretically. We hear from Friedman, Goodell and Dr. Susan Hovorka from the University of Texas, Austin, another expert on CCS.
Video extras
As the World Burns
By Jeff Goodell | Rolling Stone | January 6, 2010
An update/summary on where we are in the politics of global warming, with special focus on "how Big Oil and Big Coal mounted one of the most aggressive lobbying campaigns in history to block progress on global warming."
The Future of Coal
MIT Faculty | 2007
Following a "Future of Nuclear Power" study in 2003, an interdisciplinary MIT faculty group conducted this study to evaluate the costs and technologies associated with coal-based power generation as well as those associated with the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Mining the Mountains
Charleston Gazette | 1998–2002
West Virginia's Charleston Gazette did an award-winning series of investigative stories on local mining practices. Starting in early 1998 through 2002, the series investigates state regulators' failure to enforce environmental law when approving mining permits.
Coal Tattoo
By Ken Ward Jr. | Charleston Gazette | March 25, 2010
Reporter Ken Ward Jr.’s blog on coal issues in Appalachia.
The Cost of Climate Change: What We'll Pay if Global Warming Continues Unchecked
NRDC | May 21, 2008
THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. Commissioned by the National Resource Defense Council, this report was conducted by researchers at Tufts University. The report puts a price tag on a "do nothing" approach to climate change, breaking down their assessment by hurricane damage, real estate losses, energy costs, ad water costs. It also looks at which regions are most at risk. The study revises the economic model used in the Stern Review, a study on the cost of climate changed commissioned by the British government in 2006. The report includes the NRDC's policy recommendations for reducing U.S. GHGs.
Making Sense of the Coal Rush: The Consequences of Expanding America's Dependence on Coal
U.S. PIRG | July 2006
THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. This 2006 U.S. PIRG report evaluates the impact of 150 proposed new coal plants in the U.S. and offers its own energy policy proposal.
Energy Price Trends (Oil, Coal, Uranium, Ethanol)
Energy Justice Network
THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. This represents the most complete and up-to-date data available from the Energy Information Administration (coal, oil and gas) and other sources (for uranium and ethanol info). Energy Justice has a grassroots energy agenda, supporting communities threatened by polluting energy and waste technologies. They advocate a clean energy, zero-emission, zero-waste future for all.
How Coal Works
Union of Concerned Scientists | December 15, 2009
THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. The Union of Concerned Scientists describes the science of getting energy from coal and traces coal production from mining to electricity.
Leveling a Mountain of Research on Mountaintop Removal Strip Mining
Union of Concerned Scientists
THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. This statement by the Union of Concerned Scientists explains how senior officials in the Bush administration intentionally disregarded the findings of an environmental impact statement of mountaintop removal in Appalachia.
