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Coal Country: A Film on Modern Coal Mining in the United States
Friday Dec 11, 6PM @ Red Emma's
COAL COUNTRY
Tells of the dramatic struggle around the use of coal, which provides
over half the electricity in America. In Appalachia, miners and residents are locked in conflict: is mining
and processing coal essential to providing good jobs, or is it destroying the land,
water and air? What does this mean for the rest of America and the world?
ANOTHER CIVIL WAR
Passions are running high in the mountains of Appalachia. Families and communities are deeply split over what is being done to their land. At issue is the latest form of strip mining called ‘mountaintop removal’, or MTR. Coal companies blast the tops off mountains, and run the debris into valleys and streams. Then they mine the exposed seams of coal and transport it to processing plants. Coal is mined more cheaply than ever, and America needs coal. But the air and water are filled with chemicals, and an ancient mountain range is disappearing forever.
FUEL FOR THE FUTURE
Some experts believe that nuclear, hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar, and biomass energy sources will be important, but won't be able to meet the world’s energy demands in the foreseeable future.
Some say coal reserves will last nearly 200 years, and that it should be the focus of a domestic energy policy. They claim that new technology can reduce carbon emissions and provide ‘clean coal’. Even President Obama has talked about investing in clean coal technology. Opponents insist there is no such thing.
We will examine the proposed methods for cleaning up the use of coal: carbon sequestration, which allows carbon content to be captured and pumped into underground storage sites, and better filtering at coal processing plants.
In this time of debate about America’s reliance on foreign oil and fear of increasing energy costs, coal can look attractive. The public must be made aware of the controversy around coal; they must be given the information behind it and the opportunity to participate in the debate over America’s energy future.
Coal company manager Randall Maggard stressed to us that their new Highwall Miner as a newer more efficient method of extracting coal that is both safer and doesn't require the removal of the mountaintop. This site has been backfilled and was seeded in March and is now a level area where Freelin Browning (the property owner) wants to plant an apple orchard on this fall.The movie was made to offer views from both sides of the issue to foster better ways to compromise, and take a look at coal mining with compassion, and respect.
We tell the compelling story of modern coal mining through the daily activities of working miners as well as those who are battling the coal companies in Appalachia. Their personal stories are the touchstone for our exploration of the true cost of coal and the search for alternatives sources of energy. Are the people fighting MTR really protecting the earth, or do they stand in the way of affordable energy for all Americans?
Jordan Freeman is an independent videographer based in Rock Creek, WV. He was a primary videographer for the film Coal Country. He has also worked with Coal River Mountain Watch, Climate Ground Zero, and the Ohio Valley environmental coalition documenting events for web release. Originally coming to the Coal River from Santa Cruz, CA in 2005, Freeman has spent the last three years documenting the unfolding controversies surrounding coal mining throughout Appalachia.
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