I don't dispute that our coal consumption is bad, just that China produces much more pollution per pound (kilogram) of coal burned than the US does. Most US plants have scrubbers that catch nearly all of the ash and some of the sulfer dioxide, though the latter is still a problem which has been partly solved by using low sulfer western coal. Mercury pollution is a problem of much more complexity and requiring massive investment.

Yes, of the 150 coal power plants in planning or construction stage in the US, only one (FutureGen Program sponsored by US DOE) will be truely "clean". We definitely need to reform our own power industry and urge conservation with requirement to build "clean coal" power plants. But that does not let China off the hook for being one of the world's greatest emitters of GHG and pollution.

As I said before, one of the best incentives for reducing pollution is a disincentive like a tariff. Start with a tax on all goods made by foreign countries that do not adhere to our pollution standards. Also tax goods that are not energy efficient and use the proceeds to reduce taxes on income and perhaps food.

If the US government does not take the lead, no one will. We are soon headed down the "path to destruction" because of GHG and Peak Oil, and getting off the path will require world wide cooperation. Setting an example to the rest of the world should be the US's first step. But that may have to wait until after the 2008 elections, unfortunately.