Sunday, April 18, 2010

Massey Energy Mine Explosion-Do we need more green energy

It is now one day since an explosion in West Virginia that killed 25 miners and left 4 unaccounted for.. The corporation that owns the mine, Massey Energy, saw an 8% pullback tuesday in their stock.



The explosion took place aproximately thirty miles south of Charleston on Monday

The Upper Big Branch Mine, one of 44 mines operated by Massey Energy suffered this explosion while in the middle of a shift change Monday and was the deadliest mine accident in over 2 decades. The cause was still not known as of tuesday afternoon.Tuesday.



Massey Energy has been fined in the past as a result of violations at the Upper Big Branch and other of it's mines."Massey has probably had more fines and other issues than it's competitors," said David Lipschitz. He is a senior analyst at Credit Agricole Securities.





There have been 3 other deaths at this same mine in the past 12 years.Proposed penalties against Upper Big Branch Mine were almost $1 million last year. That's more than three times any other year on record.More than three times any other year.Included in these were penalties for escape routes for mine workers and air quality ventilation.





Massey Energy paid $4.2 million in fines after a fire at the Aracoma Alma Mine in Logan County. This was the biggest settlement in industry history and was a result of safety violations including inadequate water supply to the fire hoses. That fire occured in 2006.



This mining catastrophe could possibly elevate an already hot political climate in Washington. The top two federal officials that conduct mining safety once worked for unions and Massey Energy has historically taken a strong anti union position.Massey could be targeted for more scrutinizing without attacking the mining industry in whole.



Massey Energy has also had enviromental penalties including $20 million in fines for Clean Water Act violations in West Virginia and Kentucky. The hugest penalty in the EPA's history levied against a company for wastewater discharge permit violations. That happened January 2008. Some amounts of metals, sediment, and acid drainage into waters of West Virginia and Kentucky were at levels ten times over the limit according to the EPA.



Explosions like this could possibly escalate the political argument for and against renewable energy. With more Green energy products regularly coming on the market there are hopes that these kinds of disasters will one day be a thing of the past.happen much less often.

There are several places to get information on green renewable energy. Some even offerprovide do it yourself instruction if you are on a tight income.

Make the effort to see what Green energy products are available.




As we all know solar and wind is whot comes to mind when we think about green energy. There have been incredible improvements in these fields. I'm sure most of you have driven along and saw the big windmills, some seem to go on and on. That is called a windfarm.

You may have never heard of zero point energy but you must take a look at it. It is way cool.

Get more info on Green energy at http://masseyenergyexplosion.blogspot.com/

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