An estimated 2500 people protested outside Washington's Capitol Power Plant earlier this week, in this country’s largest act of civil disobedience against coal power – so far. Activists were not deterred by last week’s news that the plant will be converted to natural gas by the end of the year – a move that seemed designed to take the momentum out of the protest.

An estimated 2500 people protested outside Washington's Capitol Power Plant earlier this week, in this country’s largest act of civil disobedience against coal power – so far. Activists were not deterred by last week’s news that the plant will be converted to natural gas by the end of the year – a move that seemed designed to take the momentum out of the protest.

The argument centers around the notion of ‘clean coal’ and whether or not it exists. Coal-burning utility companies have been engaged in an advertising campaign to convince the public that it does, and the concept has been accepted – if somewhat reluctantly – by the new Energy Secretary, Steven Chu. Environmental groups say that it doesn’t, and that all coal burning should be stopped.

The concept of clean coal is based around the idea that carbon emissions from coal-burning power plants can be captured and stored, thereby rendering the coal ‘clean’.

What do you think – should we accept the clean coal compromise, or aim to cut all coal-fuelled power generation completely?