Alternatives to mountain top removal and all forms of surface mining

Mountaintop Removal Mining (MTR) and other forms of surface mining only provide an average of 4-5% of the nation's coal energy. With energy conservation alone, we could save an average of 20% of our current energy demands. MTR mining is not needed and serves only to provide short term profits for a few, while causing long term devastation to the mountain ecosystems and surrounding communities.

MJ encourages conservation, efficiency, solar and wind energy as alternatives to Mountain Top Removal and all forms of surface mining.

Wind is created by the unequal heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power that turns a generator that produces electricity to power homes, schools, businesses, and communities.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the world's winds could supply more than 10 times the current total world energy demand. With today's wind turbine technology, wind power could supply 20% of the United States' electricity.

Residential wind turbines - The wind turbine typically lowers your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. In a normal residential application, a home is served simultaneously by the wind turbine and a local utility. If the wind speeds are below cut-in speed (7-10 mph) there will be no output from the turbine and all of the needed power is purchased from the utility. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and the amount of power purchased from the utility is proportionately decreased. When the turbine produces more power than the house needs, the extra electricity is sold to the utility. All of this is done automatically. There are no batteries in a modern residential wind system.

Home Power Magazine provides information on home-scale renewable energy and sustainable living solutions. That means comprehensive coverage of solar, wind, and microhydro electricity, home energy efficiency, solar hot water systems, space heating and cooling, green building materials and home design, efficient transportation, and much, much more.

Green Power is power that is produced by renewable or environmentally friendly sources such as wind and solar. Consumers in most states can purchase green power (energy in kilowatt-hours) by paying just a little more each month for a cleaner, healthier future. More than 80 utilities nationwide offer green power to their customers through green pricing programs.

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is a collaboration of utilities, energy service providers and the photovoltaic industry working together to create and encourage commercial use of new solar electric power business models.

Solar power can provide electricity for many applications. In very remote locations it may be the only practical solution since reliable power can be provided virtually anywhere. In addition, more and more residential and commercial customers are realizing the benefits of utilizing solar power for electricity to offset their utility-supplied energy consumption, to provide back up power or to operate independent of the utility grid. Solar power can be a solution.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. To access information, use the menu to the left or click on the maps below.

Germany already has the second highest amount of installed wind power capacity in the world, and now they're planning on tripling the level to deliver 14 % of the country's electricity consumption by 2015. Can wind power practically deliver an important part of a country's electricity supply? The answer is yes. It costs little and there are no technical constraints. If Germany can do it, we can too.

Washington State Adopts New Renewable Energy and Efficiency Laws which pays incentives of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour (capped at $2,000 per year) to individuals, businesses, or local governments that generate electricity from solar power, wind power, or anaerobic digesters. May 11, 2005

Montana Laws Set Requirements for Renewable Energy and Ethanol Senate Bill 415 requires public utilities to purchase at least 5 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources in 2008, increasing to 15 percent by 2015. Eligible renewable energy sources include small hydropower, most biomass sources, and wind, solar, and geothermal energy, as well as fuel cells using hydrogen generated from any of these energy sources.