Coal resists cleanliness

Speaking of myths, Gov. Jim Gibbons’ favorite myth—"clean coal"—is taking a beating at the hands of reality.

Clean coal does not exist, but the Bush administration has been investing millions in trying to prove that it could. Now, however, even that source of support is drying up. The administration has withdrawn financing for the showcase “clean” coal project, a plant in Mattoon, Ill. In addition, utilities are giving up on the concept, cancelling research projects in five states.

Gibbons, who never mentions coal without prefacing it with the adjective, kept touting “clean” coal when his administration was trying to help get coal fired power plants built in eastern Nevada over the opposition of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid.