Opposing views in the battle
between large-scale power generation sources are often categorized by those who
want inexpensive electricity vs. those who favor renewable resources to lessen
our collective contribution to the devastating effects of climate change.
This assumption is false.
Over 90% of our current electric
supply is sourced from carbon based fuel and has continued to rise and is
disconnected from declining trends in fuel costs.
Using renewable sources of energy
have reached grid parity, producing electricity at or below the cost of carbon
based fuels.
Republicans and Democrats in
Congress who promote carbon-emitting sources are economically driven by their
donor base principally in the oil and coal industries. Their voting record and
political views have nothing to do with the cost of electricity or (sadly) the
preferences and requests of voters. The exception to this is obviously in the
coal & oil producing states that see renewable alternatives as a threat to
their livelihood and would rather disregard the catastrophic impact of climate
change.
“I’m not a
scientist either, but I can use my brain, and I can talk to one,” Crist said at
a Florida State University presentation on greenhouse gases and rising sea
levels... Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist
As you may read below, almost every
category (except extremists in the Tea Party) want their energy to come from
renewable sources and want Congress to act on climate change.
· 97% of
National Medical Association (NMA) members said climate change is happening the
NMA is the main association for African-American physicians). 62% said it is
mostly or entirely caused by human activities.[i]
· 78% of Americans say the
federal government should limit greenhouse gases, including 87% of Democrats
and 60% of Republicans.[ii]
· 87% of small business owners
named one or more consequences of climate change as potentially harmful to
their businesses.[iii]
· 66% of Americans would be
more likely to support a candidate who believes in global warming and wants to
act on it, including 81% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans. Only 13% of Americans would be more likely to
support a candidate who believes global warming is a hoax.2
· 88% of NMA members think the
U.S. should make a large scale effort to protect people from current effects of
climate change even if it has large economic costs, or a medium scale effort to
protect people even if it has medium economic costs.1
· 70% of Americans think the
federal government should limit the release of greenhouse gases from existing
power plants in an effort to reduce global warming, including 78% of Democrats
and 63% of Republicans.[iv]
· 70% of Americans think the
federal government should require states to limit the amount of greenhouse
gases produced within their borders, in an effort to reduce global warming,
including 79% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans.5
· 63% of Americans would
support restrictions that significantly lowered greenhouse gases but raised
energy bills by $20/month, including 71% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans.5
· 67% of Americans support the
EPA’s rule regulating carbon dioxide. [v]
· 80% of Americans say the
federal government should provide tax breaks to produce more electricity from
water, wind, and solar power, including 83% of Democrats and 74% of
Republicans.2
· According to a survey by the
Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University
Center for Climate Change Communication, “Americans
across political lines, except conservative Republicans, think government,
(including their own member of Congress, their governor, local government
officials, and President Obama) should do more to address global warming.”4
The overwhelming consensus among scientists is
that fossil fuel use is the largest contributor to high concentrations of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere, and that continuing our high consumption risks even
more serious environmental change. Americans understand the tradeoffs required
for energy, and are willing to make them. They understand that wind and solar
energy is cleaner than fossil fuels, and that oil and nuclear energy is more
expensive than natural gas or coal. Contrary to the common political debate,
Americans’ energy preferences are not based on partisanship.7
Climate change is happening. Ninety-seven
percent (97%) of climate scientists have confirmed that human actions are
causing global warming. Even though it has been cold in the U.S. recently, 2014
was the warmest year on record and 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have
occurred in the 21st century.
“Admit
it. In some fashion, you’ve probably given voice to the thought. If climate
change is real — if the world is supposedly heating up — then how come last
winter was so long and our summer so cool? It’s because our perspective is
skewed. We’re like a guy with his head in the refrigerator while his house is
burning down, thinking nothing’s wrong.” -Tom Keane, Boston Globe
Republicans and some members of the Democratic
Party embrace the pentagon and throw their full, unwavering support for almost
unlimited resources and maintain a blind commitment to the recommendations by
senior military personnel – except when the Navy Task Force on Energy forcefully
chastises Congress for “ignoring the warnings” of climate change.
The Rolling Stone article titled “The Pentagon and Climate Change: How Deniers Put National Security at Risk”. The incendiary title illustrates the mounting frustration and disgust the Joint Chiefs of Staff exhibit toward Congress.
Donald E. Bowen, Jr., P.L.S.
Principal
Principal
