Fellow Story
Daniel Orenstein had an op-ed in Haaretz on why natural gas is no environmental panacea for Israel's energy needs
Two months ago, in what was considered a victory for environmental groups, the National Planning and Building Council approved plans for a new power plant in Ashkelon that will run on natural gas. The decision, which received broad support from environmental groups, Ashkelon city hall and various government ministries, was opposed only by the Finance Ministry. The ministry advocated a coal-fired plant which, its representatives claimed, would be less expensive to operate. While the treasury's claims could be disputed once external costs - in terms of public health, property value and environmental quality - are taken into account, the real issue is whether natural gas is really the "environmental" alternative.
