which makes me wonder how much coal they actually use, since you'd think if it was truly critical you'd worry a little more about getting it out efficiently
Yes! FWIW, I think that almost nothing in the Capitol runs on coal--their electricity needs are enormous, and I just don't see 8,000 people in Twelve being able to support that (though I have no real capacity to analyze that). I'm guessing that the Capitol uses electricity generated from Five. OTOH, I think the power lines out to the outlying districts could be dodgy (there's a lot of distance to cover between the Rockies and Appalachia/Atlanta), so perhaps the coal is used predominantly by 9-12, in rudimentary local power plants, plus perhaps actually in homes, as an alternative to wood stove heat where there aren't a lot of trees? If the power is as dodgy in Nine/Ten/Eleven as is described by Katniss for Twelve, I can see a need to use coal in homes during the winter (well, maybe not in Eleven).
no subject
Yes! FWIW, I think that almost nothing in the Capitol runs on coal--their electricity needs are enormous, and I just don't see 8,000 people in Twelve being able to support that (though I have no real capacity to analyze that). I'm guessing that the Capitol uses electricity generated from Five. OTOH, I think the power lines out to the outlying districts could be dodgy (there's a lot of distance to cover between the Rockies and Appalachia/Atlanta), so perhaps the coal is used predominantly by 9-12, in rudimentary local power plants, plus perhaps actually in homes, as an alternative to wood stove heat where there aren't a lot of trees? If the power is as dodgy in Nine/Ten/Eleven as is described by Katniss for Twelve, I can see a need to use coal in homes during the winter (well, maybe not in Eleven).
Damn. I should probably draw this.
YES YOU SHOULD