Green Groups Come Down on 'Clean Coal'

A new advertising campaign backed by environmental organizations, including one supported by Al Gore, is calling into question the efficacy of “clean coal technology,” the Washington Post reports. “Clean coal” was a buzzword during this year’s election, but environmentalists think it’s an oxymoron. “We cannot base the strategy for human survival on the illusions of the industry,” Gore said.

One TV ad, currently airing, depicts an actor touring a “clean coal” facility, actually barren desert. “The machinery is kind of loud,” he says over screaming wind with no plant in sight. A coal advocate said we can be “capable of storing and capturing carbon from coal plants,” dismissing the criticism. “Coal is going to be an important part of our future.” (More Al Gore stories.)