The head of the nation's third largest electric utility says he can't stop building coal-burning plants right now -- even though he believes it contributes to global warming.

"It took100 years to get where we are and we can't do this overnight." explains Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy.

Job one for him is to keep power flowing to his customers and removing the carbon dioxide is out of the question, at least for the next 40 years.

That's how long it will take to economically switch to what's called clean coal technolgy - taking the carbon dioxide, turning it into a liquid and pumping it underground.

However, NASA's top climate scientist says coal is the greatest threat to the planet, requiring immediate action to prevent climate disasters.

"2050 is too late. We will have guaranteed disasters to our children, grandchildren and the unborn." says Jim Hansen.

Coal fuels a large part of West Virginia's economy.

In a recent Decision Makers interview, Dr. Charles Bayless, former WVU Tech President and a leading energy analyst talked about the expense of switching.

"With the economic shape the world is in right now, can we afford to throw away a few trillion dollars of energy infrastructure use like coal and replace it. I mean it's like taking a car that's working perfectly and we're not talking about trading it in. I'm talking about discarding it and buying a new one."

A spokesman for Governor Manchin says the Governor feels a balance needs to be found between the environment and the economy.

Matt Turner issued this statement:

"The Governor believes that we also must commit to investing in the energy sources of the future to uncover more efficient and cleaner energy sources.

That means not just coal, but natural gas and renewable sources including wind, solar, hydro and biofuels.

The energy and mining bills he put forward this past regular session and plans to address them in the special session will help us reach those goals."

The Obama administration wants to speed up cleaner technologies by taxing utilities for the carbon they produce.

The issue is on the front burner in Congress. And debate is heated on both sides.