Rich:
I do recall your very suggestion being brought up in some of the many informal and formal coaltrain meetings over the past several years in Winona. As I recall, and I could stand to be corrected, the responses from elected officials and the DM&E people basically did not take the suggestion as a serious option.
It makes great sense to me. Suggestions were to run a power line on the DM&E right-of-way. There would be costs to build it, but nothing compared to the costs of rebuilding a rail line and then operating the trains. We also know that this Powder River Basin coal has a higher moisture content than eastern coal. It takes more coal weight to get the same amount of BTU's. All the more reason your suggestion is quite logical.
But I think the reality is that these are railroad people proposing the DM&E upgrade and they want to make money on hauling coal. It would defeat their purpose to provide an alternative solution which would make the coaltrains unnecessary.
And, of course, our federal government does not have a Dept. of Energy which would weigh in on the reasonable solution you suggested. We have no coherent federal or state energy policy. Corporations propose methods to supply energy from which they can make money and our state and federal regulators approve them. It's for profit, not for the common good. And we all pay more and have our lives and our earth diminished. ---- Joe Morse
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
--------------- This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe All messages sent to the list must be signed with your actual name. Posting of commercial soliticitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems or questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
