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Progressive
Growth—Creating a Low-Carbon Economy
More on Coal Fired
Power Plants
Breaking news:
November 13th ruling by EPA: Coal Fired Plants must limit
CO2.
Parades and
Fireworks would be in order. This ruling allows consideration of funds
currently going to dirty fuels (fossil fuels) to be diverted to Clean
Energy companies and initiatives. Every inch we gain against the fossil
fuel companies is such a victory, as they have so much money to lobby
for support. They have an understandable fear about losing us as
customers. There are whole dynasties, here and abroad, built on this
dirty energy income.
I will say again,
it’s their industry, and they saw it coming. Instead of paying
huge sums to lobbyists and corrupt politicians, they should have been
converting to Clean Energy. They would have had a few less villas and
vintage cars, yes. It would have been the decent investment to make,
though.
 If
you missed this past year’s film, There Will Be Blood, the DVD is
available to rent. It is still a must view. In a scramble to ‘clean up’
their image, the new oil company commercials that are desperately, and
belatedly, aiming at us, the viewing audience, deliver a not-so-subtle
message that they’re at the forefront of the new energy economies.
Really? They want to corner the new markets, can you blame them? One can
only marvel at their hubris. For delaying the inevitable awareness that
the oil wars are coming to a close, they may deserve the same fate as
the dinosaurs that contributed to their wealth.
A dynastic
mentality does not serve the community. Their interests in the other
dirty fossil fuel, Coal, are mired in the same greed. It would go a long
way towards ending the ‘us and them’ mentality for them to immediately
fund new energy alternatives, not tomorrow, today. Join the community,
and give back—the future is not so far off.
In the September
‘Greening Nevada’ column, my coverage of the “Fighting Goliath…” (www.vegascommunityonline.com/2008/Sept/Sept08-w2-ENT_Carol-Patterson.htm)
event here at the Paris Hotel discussed one state’s fight to prevent
coal-fired power plants slated to be built in their backyards. I also
mentioned that of the three plants under consideration here in Nevada to
share our local skies. This must not happen, as it will jeopardize the
only solid industry we have, tourism. With this amendment victory, it
will take them a minute to regroup.
Nevada needs to
position itself as one of the states building towards a Clean Energy
Economy—Nevada style. We have ample geo-thermal, wind and solar
resources to not only supply our own needs, but export energy to our
water rich neighbors. It is imperative we all get on board in some
fashion. This will mean jobs and a revitalization of our local economy,
not to mention diversify our revenues and employment choices.
This landmark EPA
ruling is a milestone in the current events upon which we all need to
keep our eyes ‘peeled’. Now we have a big gain, nationally on this
subject which needs our attention. Definitely get the specifics, and if
you lack the actual time right now to join grassroots volunteers for
clean energy, donations to non-profit watch dogs are the next best
thing. (some clicks below)
To elaborate, here
are some excerpts from those on the national front, tracking these
issues, with clicks to the full news.
The Sierra Club’s
Executive Director Carl Pope, on this breakthrough, quoted the Club’s
attorney:
“Today's decision
opens the way for meaningful action to fight global warming and is a
major step in bringing about a clean energy economy," said Joanne
Spalding, the Sierra Club senior attorney who argued the case. "This is
one more sign that we must begin re-powering, refueling, and rebuilding
America.”
In a related
article, Pope noted that the recent election unseated 7 of the 12
national legislators consistently voting for dirty energy initiatives
and tax incentives:
“Since the election,
environmentalists have picked up another key Senate seat, in Oregon,
where Jeff Merkley unseated Gordon Smith. Seven of 2008's "Dirty
Dozen," selected every year by the League of Conservation Voters,
are gone.”
The November 13th
TIME article, “Environmentalists Win Big EPA Ruling”, by Bryan Walsh,
discusses in an easy read, the particulars of the EPA ruling, which they
herald as a big step towards clean energy and away from dirty energy
(fossil fuels).
Notably: “…over 100
coal plants are in various stages of development around the country. If
those plants are built without the means to capture and sequester
underground the carbon they emit — and it's far from clear that such
technology will be commercially viable in the near-term — our ambitious
goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert climate change will
be meaningless.
Read on:
Time link
Excerpt: TIME:
“How to Win the War on Global Warming”, November 14th
article:
There are shooting
wars—the kind that test our mettle and our patriotism and our
resourcefulness and our courage—and those are the kind at which we
excel. But other struggles test those qualities too. What else was the
Great Depression or the space race or the construction of the railroads
or the eradication of polio but a massive, often frightening challenge
that we decided as a culture we ought to rise up and face? If we indulge
in a bit of chest-thumping and flag-waving when the job is done, well,
we earned it.
I was really
peeved with the Sierra Club blocking timely completion of 95 West,
however they had their reasons. They are, after all, looking at the
larger picture, and not our local commute problems. We are the
shortsighted ones that didn’t get our infrastructure going before all
the people answered our ads to come here. The Sierra Club is big into
the Clean Energy Economy, which is certainly of greater importance. They
have a newsletter by email, as well as a global newsworthy viewpoint.
www.sierraclub.org/
and they have a
straight to the
donation click
complete with its pic of the poster child
of global warming, the polar bear:
Or if you want to
volunteer:
The two chapters
in the Las Vegas area that are actively in the community are: the
Toiyabe Chapter Southern Nevada
http://nevada.sierraclub.org/
and the chapter:
Building Environmental Community: Las Vegas Nevada
www.sierraclub.org/community/lasvegas/
They have a
plethora of information and calendar events.
Volunteers Needed
1. Monitor weather
stations twice monthly in Lovell Canyon and on the west side of the
mountain near Wheeler Wash. Jim Hurja, US Forest Service,
702-839-5568
2. Docents for NPS to work with children both in a classroom setting and
in the field for an environmental education school program in the fall
of 2008. Minimum commitment of 1 day/week (8 hrs). Training provided.
Background check required. Nancy Bernard, 293-8714.
3. Administrative Assistants - NPS. Nancy Bernard, 293-8714
4. Water Safety - NPS. Provide assistance on launch ramp, serve as deck
hands and boat operators, provide boating, accident & drowning
prevention, and water safety information. Assist visitors with water
safety issues & provide park information to the public. Nancy
Bernard. 293-8714
Cultural Site
Stewardship
Specially-trained
volunteers monitor and protect sensitive sites.
www.publiclands.unlv.edu/cssp.htm
Tell the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide pollution:
www.repoweramerica.org/page/s/epa
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