Carbon Capture and "Storage" As a Fix

One of the latest and most touted technologies for saving the planet from our evil carbon emissions is to capture that carbon and store it, usually by stuffing it into the ground. In a karmic sense, this is a pretty great idea since the carbon likely came out of the ground to start with.

In Europe, it's being done at coal-burning power plants. The emissions are literally piped into the ground and stuffed into porous rock, which acts like a sponge to water. This technology works similarly to the oil extraction process used in Canada, in which water is shoved into the ground to displace oil captured in porous rock, forcing it to come out and keeping the ground stable in the process.

The problem with carbon stuffing, which is my term for this capture process, is that it's only a temporary solution to a problem whose existence is debatable. I don't like pollution any more than the next guy, but these power plants are rarely near city or urban centers, adding to smog and air quality concerns. The other problem is the environmental impact this could be having, especially on ground water and other things. I don't see anyone studying that phenomenon.

At any rate, at least they're thinking about it realistically instead of in some dream-world state like Al Gore and his cronies seem to be always floating in, way up in the sky in that multi-million dollar, fossil-fuel burning corporate jet they cruise around in to meet their various appointments to preach about "going green."

In my mind, this carbon stuffing is really nothing more than a stop-gap, feel-good measure that doesn't actually solve any problems, but does get the abusive greenies off your back. You know, those people who drive around in their Subaru Foresters and complain about the lack of "alternatives" so they can be "greener."

I would point them to the multitude of very green, very available electric vehicles spreading around the planet. Sure, they generally either look stupid or cost way too much, but that shouldn't be a problem for these people who're willing to sacrifice (everything everyone else has) so that they can feel better about their "footprint." Right?