Madrum,
Our environmental lobby groups are really starting to worry me. It has really become a religion followed on blind faith, rather than any logical understanding of the what is involved in the processes. I don't the believe the NIMBYs get a look in at the environmental rallies any more. They have been kicked out by the BANANAs as NIMBYs are seen as too conservative, especially in NSW. (see ref below for translations)
My nephew, the other day said to me, that to some people I work for the devil, as I am in the fossil fuel industry. My come back was, "you are the devil, as you are the consumer", he looked confused for some reason?
I really do hope that UCG can differentiate itself from CSG, but to many in the Green movement, it will do no good, as Bananaism runs to the extreme. Also the name UCG has problems. It contains a four letter word starting with "C". Maybe UOMG would be a better sell. As in "Underground Organic Material Gassification"? It will then be a bio-reactor and we can then have it certified as organic, where no pesticides were used in its manufacture nor any birds killed, just to compare it to wind, as we would only be producing hot air. Though I am not sure which side of the argument will produce the most hot air by the end of the day?
To get back to your main point, public education needs to be at the fore front of any planning and CO2 and disposal needs to be front and centre, to show how small a carbon foot print UOMG can be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY
