An article about coal use from my hometown newspaper..

..concerning the use of coal for heating by navajo indians in the four corners area of new mexico. it seems a little biased if ya ask me.

SHIPROCK — Rowena Sells had a choice.

Sells, of Shiprock, had to choose between propane and coal to heat her home, a decision encountered by many residents of the 27,000-square-mile reservation and surrounding areas.

It's not an easy choice, Sells said.

Propane costs about $3,000 to keep the home she shares with her husband, Carson, warm through the winter. Coal, though cheaper, comes with crushing risks.

http://www.daily-times.com/ci_16481231? ... ost_viewed

Biased?? ya think--one would think that the Res. elders would do some intense research on coal burning, careing for thier people & looking for a more economic way to heat, but, if they are anything like many Res's I've visited,the fuel companies probably have the elders in their back pockets--Native politics are no different then our own

freetown fred wrote:Biased?? ya think--one would think that the Res. elders would do some intense research on coal burning, careing for thier people & looking for a more economic way to heat, but, if they are anything like many Res's I've visited,the fuel companies probably have the elders in their back pockets--Native politics are no different then our own

a very large number of navajos are directly or indirectly supported by coal, whether by working at mining operations or coal fired power plants in the area, or thru payments made by the companies to the tribe. also, peabody coal allows its employees to take free coal from their mining operations, i've heard as much as 6 truckloads a year.

ps- i thought this was a brand-new article but it had been bumped up into the 'most viewed' category for some reason, yet it's from last october.