News and information from the New Orleans area
Anti-Green Award for worst polluting parade vehicle during Mardi Gras
Mid-City is a parade that children love because the foil floats reflect the sun on a bright day and take on a magical quality. The Mid-City Calliope is an old fashioned musical delight that everyone enjoys as it passes by. Obviously the steam engine that powers the calliope has always spewed black smoke, but possibly the time has come to update the power system for a greener version? 
Apparently you do not understand steam engines or meteorology. Steam engines emit black smoke only when a fresh shovel of coal is thrown into the firebox. And then the smoke is mere carbon particles that get washed back to the ground in the next rain storm. And further, green plants love carbon dioxide.
This is a Mardi Gras blog, and we aren’t experts on steam engines or meteorology. We know the steam engine played a huge role in the development of New Orleans. My parents were both aerographers in WWII, so I know a bit about the weather. I stand by my award, but thanks for commenting.
I wholeheartedly agree with Gale. There is and always has been a set amount of carbon in earth’s atmosphere. Since coal is the remains of long deceased animals and such, and since most living creatures are carbon based, when they died, that carbon was taken out of the cycle. Now, whenever coal is burnt, it is simply releasing long dormant carbon back into the atmosphere and carbon cycle.
When too much is burnt all at once, and too much carbon released too fast, however, it can be harmful to the environment. If you want to pick on people who burn coal and make great amounts of pollution, go talk to the power plants and leave the hobby steamers alone.
I would recommend looking into the case of the S.S. Badger carferry. The EPA was giving them trouble because of the coal slurry (a mixture of ash and water) that they were emitting into Lake Michigan. It’s the last coal burning passenger ship in North America, and it has been taken into consideration to convert the vessel to burn natural gas, which would make it the most environmentally friendly vessel on the Great Lakes.
I help run steam engines at a local threshing bee, and burning coal is part of the experience, it smells good, and is just more fun!
Liam, I’ve thought about this at some length, and I agree with you. Historical usages of coal fired steam engines are really super cool. We have steam paddle boat plying the Mississippi River, http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/. I stand corrected, and I thank Gaile and you, Liam, for pointing this out to me. Happy New Year, Go LSU, Saints and Hornets!!
David
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