Carbon tax talk

With the election out of the way, the idea of a CO2 tax is in the news again.
The number in the news article is around $20 tax per ton of CO2. From what I understand a ton coal creates 5,685 pounds of CO2. That would be a real cost increase for heating during a season, but it still better than oil i guess. Maybe we better figure out where to store a TT load and buy it before bill ever passes!

Since the EPA is getting ready to offer up some new laws regarding Coal Ash as a hazardous substance. How long before we are to go the way of the dinosuars?

Ctyankee wrote:With the election out of the way, the idea of a CO2 tax is in the news again.
The number in the news article is around $20 tax per ton of CO2. From what I understand a ton coal creates 5,685 pounds of CO2. That would be a real cost increase for heating during a season, but it still better than oil i guess. Maybe we better figure out where to store a TT load and buy it before bill ever passes!

How would 1 to of coal create 2.5 tons of CO2

Flyer5 wrote:

Ctyankee wrote:With the election out of the way, the idea of a CO2 tax is in the news again.
The number in the news article is around $20 tax per ton of CO2. From what I understand a ton coal creates 5,685 pounds of CO2. That would be a real cost increase for heating during a season, but it still better than oil i guess. Maybe we better figure out where to store a TT load and buy it before bill ever passes!

How would 1 to of coal create 2.5 tons of CO2

1 ton of coal @ 98% carbon: .98 x 2000 = 1960 lbs

the weight of CO2 is 27.3% carbon and 72.7% oxygen

By simplified ratio, 1960 lbs/.273 = 7179.5 lbs of CO2

lsayre wrote:Ah, simple and concise. Weight it is.

2,000 lbs. of coal at 80% carbon = 1,600 of carbon

44/12 x 1,600 lbs = 5,870 lbs of CO2

I had to muck it up a little

lsayre wrote:My "carbon footprint" from burning coal for heat and DHW is about 25,000 to 30,000 lbs. of CO2 generated per year.

I guess my brain is just too small. I just want to stay warm.

Tax em'

ha ah ha, why do I have Yosemite Sam/0bama in my head sayin :

"Maybe that'll learn ya to keep yrrrr big mouth shut."

Ed.A wrote:Since the EPA is getting ready to offer up some new laws regarding Coal Ash as a hazardous substance. How long before we are to go the way of the dinosuars?

I suspect what the EPA wants to classify as hazardous is "fly" ash not "bottom" ash. Residential coal burning produces very little collectable fly ash. It's what you clean out of flue pipes and the chimney bottom door each year. Highly likely the amount residential burning would produce would be below any regulation enforcement minimums.

Yanche wrote:I suspect what the EPA wants to classify as hazardous is "fly" ash not "bottom" ash. Residential coal burning produces very little collectable fly ash. It's what you clean out of flue pipes and the chimney bottom door each year. Highly likely the amount residential burning would produce would be below any regulation enforcement minimums.

Well you're prolly right.

But it's this that got me a bit uneasy : In 2010, EPA proposed regulations that would impose additional regulatory requirements on coal combustion residuals (including fly ash, bottom ash and other debris, such as “clinkers” – the cinder-like residuals at the bottom of combustion chambers) under RCRA. EPA’s delay in finalizing its rules spurred the filling of the two lawsuits.
http://www.martenlaw.com/newsletter/201 ... h-disposal