Every time you hit the light switch, half the power you use is supplied by coal. It's one of the cheapest and most dependable fuels we have. It's also the dirtiest. As regulators crack down on carbon and other emissions, some say we should stop using coal altogether. Others aren't sure that's a realistic goal. Laura Leslie reports for our series North Carolina Voices: Tomorrow's Energy.
00000177-6edd-df44-a377-6fff43430000Energy – and how we get it – affects everyone. Someone loads coal in a chute in a western North Carolina power plant, and someone else turns on a light in the Triangle.But how will we get that energy in 10 or 20 years? Coal is a leading cause of global warming… and we can't yet rely on renewable energy like solar and wind.Are utility companies making the right decisions? And are environmentalists realistic about our everyday needs? At stake is not just the state's economic growth, but our quality of life.North Carolina Voices: Tomorrow's Energy is a two-week long series that will look at the people making the decisions and driving the debate over energy. It airs on Morning Edition and energy-related topics will be discussed on The State of Things.The stories aired over the course of April 12-23 are presented in an hour-long special hosted by Eric Hodge.
Tomorrow's Energy: Quitting Coal
