The following is an interesting blog entry from Al Jazeera, but has its limitations. Although the protests cited certainly played a significant role in rolling back many US coal projects of late, so did a fall in the price of gas, which has seen an advance in use of that particular source of power. Except in passing, the piece doesn’t cover decisions taken by the US government Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the Agency has adopted a sometimes contradictory stance in regard to permitting new coal-fired plants and coal mines, it has certainly taken some important decisions. The article fails to mention campaigns waged by groups like Rainforest Action Network against bank lending to coal; or associated initiatives by BankWatch and others. Nor does it refer to the vigorous movement against mountaintop mining which, arguably, is as much – if not more – “grassroots” oriented than some of the movements it does include.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/11736.