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In Drive for Wind Power, Man Who Led Coal Plant Seeks Atonem

nytimes.com -- By KEITH BRADSHER July 2, 2009
Min Deqing, who delayed pollution controls at his coal plant in Lanzhou, is promoting clean energy. “I feel regretful, and sorry for the people,” he says.
A guilty conscience turned Min Deqing into northwestern China’s unlikely prophet of wind and solar energy.
Shortly after he assumed the top job, officials from the local environmental protection bureau came to him and asked that he install modern pollution-control equipment to help improve the city’s soot-filled air. Mr. Min had just finished three years as head of the power plant’s auditing department and knew just how bad the pollution was, he said.
But he stalled for three years before finally installing the equipment, because it was costly and he did not want to dent the plant’s profits

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Submitted Jul 03, 2009 By: teafortwo

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billsandi Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,572 Points:1,408,225 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:54:34 PM Ignore billsandi Report Abuse Is this article about China or the US?
CptnCanada Champion Author Saskatoon Posts:2,764 Points:414,050 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:54:28 PM Ignore CptnCanada Report Abuse Same everywhere business trumps sense
72_Monte Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,830 Points:1,025,730 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:52:55 PM Ignore 72_Monte Report Abuse Now they just need their government to get on board.
Yonkers111 Champion Author Scranton Posts:6,328 Points:536,820 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:49:40 PM Ignore Yonkers111 Report Abuse Clean it up.
LocalSpyGuy Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,946 Points:616,165 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:48:05 PM Ignore LocalSpyGuy Report Abuse Profits before the environment. Does this sound familiar?
Dkrdj5 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:2,270 Points:338,975 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:48:01 PM Ignore Dkrdj5 Report Abuse sounds like profit over people was the choice.
kyrunner Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,936 Points:726,685 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:47:52 PM Ignore kyrunner Report Abuse day49 is on target. China and Russia will NEVER go to the extremes the US is going and they will survive this global climate hoax. Happy Independence Day this 4th of July and I am praying it won't be our last. If Big Brother (BO)gets his way we will be celebrating "Dependence Day on the Government" next 4th of July.
olcowboy14 Champion Author Spokane Posts:4,683 Points:743,160 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:46:24 PM Ignore olcowboy14 Report Abuse What a passionate story, puts a lump in my throat, of coal. After this their gov't took him out and shot him.
pokey469 Champion Author Hamilton Posts:1,134 Points:262,165 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:43:31 PM Ignore pokey469 Report Abuse Heaven forbid you put a "dent in the plant's profits"
lgwhitlock Champion Author Chico Posts:2,839 Points:725,225 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:42:26 PM Ignore lgwhitlock Report Abuse How does this effect us in the USA? It does not effect gas prices yet since there are not that many plug-in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are still about a year out.
micpie Veteran Author Oregon Posts:465 Points:116,965 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:42:05 PM Ignore micpie Report Abuse Whatever! Happy 4th of July everyone!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,998 Points:1,398,150 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:38:50 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse obama paying chinese shills now ????????
PithyOpiner Champion Author Stockton Posts:6,928 Points:712,905 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:31:13 PM Ignore PithyOpiner Report Abuse Wow! What a great story. I wonder if I'll want to read another story about China in an hour?
Cheepo Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,084 Points:2,181,140 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:29:07 PM Ignore Cheepo Report Abuse Wind will work on boats, but who will try wind on airplanes???
REBA1055 Sophomore Author Ohio Posts:236 Points:428,455 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:24:18 PM Ignore REBA1055 Report Abuse Need to go back to the horse and buggy days and then we might get ahead a little just remember everything no a days causes pollution it will only get worse before it gets better unless we step it up.
banddaddy Sophomore Author Raleigh Posts:119 Points:631,380 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:23:37 PM Ignore banddaddy Report Abuse Kinda sounds like a modern American CEO, only really interested in the profits so he can get his big bonus.
Lavinia Rookie Author California Posts:72 Points:137,390 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:21:10 PM Ignore Lavinia Report Abuse It will take legions of Min Deqings to bring our clear and pure air back.
RAC110 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:2,363 Points:1,165,235 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:20:07 PM Ignore RAC110 Report Abuse let us see what we can that will be happening in the future with this
day49 All-Star Author Washington Posts:932 Points:715,315 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:19:12 PM Ignore day49 Report Abuse This is an article about a coal plant in China. China is notorious for either not having pollution control regulations or have very lax enforcement. Coal power plants in the U.S. have to meet our emissions regulations. And when tighter regulations are enacted, our plants will have to comply. I don't trust third world countries to do the same. Oh, if you thought the gas prices were high last year, wait until carbon taxing comes around. We'll be reminiscing about the good o' year of 2008.
krell58 Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,792 Points:1,143,705 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:11:24 PM Ignore krell58 Report Abuse Just put in a wood burner and go to town this winter.
Cuzilla Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,824 Points:1,552,390 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:09:01 PM Ignore Cuzilla Report Abuse "It was costly and did not want to dent the plant's profits." People in this country are going to find out just what the ramifications of that statement means in real terms here!
fizbos Champion Author Maine Posts:2,092 Points:1,037,660 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:06:10 PM Ignore fizbos Report Abuse Perhaps a prelude to US coal plants being carbon taxed into oblivion.
threewheeler Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,313 Points:286,620 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:06:01 PM Ignore threewheeler Report Abuse better late than never
w4kh Champion Author Riverside Posts:6,876 Points:1,278,470 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:00:21 PM Ignore w4kh Report Abuse The polluters in the US all get high paying jobs as lobbyists or even Environmental Protection Agency heads... and all because we would rather have cheap gasoline and electricity than breathe clean air!
Eichhornchen Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,737 Points:534,865 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:54:40 AM Ignore Eichhornchen Report Abuse can't imagine anyone here doing something like that. Atonement is not in a politician or executives vocabulary
jiamusi45 Champion Author Calgary Posts:1,317 Points:103,405 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:53:43 AM Ignore jiamusi45 Report Abuse For so long China did'nt have many vehicles on there highways, now with there drive for a middle class they are going the way of the G7.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,931 Points:818,705 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:53:42 AM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse You would never find this in the US.
NavyStore Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,692 Points:1,188,145 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:53:36 AM Ignore NavyStore Report Abuse True Xpoint, but in the business world everyone internalizes profits & externalizes liabilities. Pollution and it's control is a liability that everyone on the planet ends up paying. If we put these cost into a product (like a cap 7 trade system does) prices will go up in the short term, but long term cost DROP! Example: Love Canal, NY. All those toxic chemicals were illegally dumped and covered over and the company that did it was driven into bankruptcy because of the fines & cleanup costs. If there had been an infrastructure & verifiable regulation in place to process (or at least store) it properly, those billions of dollars could have gone to something else (like roads, healthcare for employees, dividends for shareholders...). Everyone, in every nation needs to be demanding that the TRUE cost of a product is included with the actual price. Once we have a level playing field, America can always kick some economic booty!
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,652 Points:731,425 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:51:58 AM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse The difference in the Far East and our mentality.
Ken1935 Rookie Author Phoenix Posts:62 Points:250,125 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:50:04 AM Ignore Ken1935 Report Abuse Never happen around here
gypsykid Champion Author Florida Posts:2,192 Points:435,515 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:45:15 AM Ignore gypsykid Report Abuse wow someone with a conscience? (eyeroll) too little too late
LexusLS400 Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,518 Points:707,600 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:40:13 AM Ignore LexusLS400 Report Abuse "(He wore out three wind gauges, all bought with his own money, and is now on his fourth.)" . Were they made in China? LOLOL
DIESEMAN Rookie Author California Posts:74 Points:62,980 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:39:25 AM Ignore DIESEMAN Report Abuse SO TRUE XPOINT
Xpoint Champion Author Idaho Posts:5,337 Points:693,625 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:35:14 AM Ignore Xpoint Report Abuse Wind power can be a good source of alternative power, but ...... "IT HAS TO BE COST COMPETETIVE."
KillChain Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,264 Points:603,800 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:32:08 AM Ignore KillChain Report Abuse Hope he didnt have a gun pointed at his head in his "new" job.
Bud122CA Champion Author California Posts:2,980 Points:680,455 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:29:23 AM Ignore Bud122CA Report Abuse Glad someone is doing something over there.
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:10,732 Points:2,147,270 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:24:41 AM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse Sounds good for China & Mr Min... and no China is not stepping up to its polution problem in a big way - only isolated incidences & much in fear of oil crisis occurring.
ccycles All-Star Author Missouri Posts:807 Points:637,570 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:22:50 AM Ignore ccycles Report Abuse better late than never
snewwee Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,994 Points:1,015,080 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:21:41 AM Ignore snewwee Report Abuse Part of the 'who knew WHAT when' Theory.
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:4,066 Points:425,585 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:19:05 AM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse A clear demonstration of how one person can make such a big difference. Both good and bad. If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,938 Points:942,870 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:18:20 AM Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse can you imagine what would happen if US politicians/lobbists followed his lead?
nigelb Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,502 Points:528,465 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:14:37 AM Ignore nigelb Report Abuse Interesting because I did not realize China was as active in controlling pollution. Shows why we need to do the same in the US otherwise others will be the developers of alternative energy and we will be behind the curve - just like what happened to the auto industry. [Edited by: nigelb at 7/3/2009 1:15:06 PM EST]
Tenshot All-Star Author Quad Cities Posts:610 Points:972,975 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 11:11:00 AM Ignore Tenshot Report Abuse Mr Min you are a good man