Posted by
Bill Barron
on
February 16, 2010 5:55 pm
Well done! A great opportunity to build momentum at a critical time.
Posted by
Jim Kirkland
on
February 16, 2010 6:30 pm
We need to innovate with new and improved technologies and conserve energy. The US needs to do all it can do to cut CO2, but we are still toast as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil.... will keep expanding their use of fossil fuels. The Earth's temperature will continue to rise and our nation, and the world better start planning accordingly.
That does not mean to join the tea-baggers and bury our heads in the sand. We need to push technologies that are online now or can be soon. Clean coal is a fantasy, but nuclear power is not. Can we improve on nuclear in the 21st century from what we have built up to now ? I don't know, but with the human factor, we should best be looking at other technologies.
The best thing we can do is work on small technologies (like the personal computer, cell phones, etc.), that can be used to wean our homes off the national energy grid. Improve insulation, increased energy efficiency, passive and active solar energy technologies, wind, backyard geothermal to buffer heating and cooling our homes, and most important energy storage in the form of at home hydrogen production and fuel cells. Just imagine each home making its own fuel for its car and just trading in the tanks at service centers on long trips. These are the technologies that will be the technologies of the future. Big energy may not be a fan of this, but what can be more American than personal energy independence.
You are in a position to help move these personal energy technologies forward. I'm a paleontologist, and worse yet I’m in Utah, so all I can do is rant into the ether. But, this can be done and we had better get started or climate change will be even worse crises than I, unfortunately, think it will be anyway. The time to start was yesterday, but maybe we cam ameliorate the effects if we start doing SOMETHING NOW.
Posted by
Sam Schmidt
on
February 16, 2010 8:58 pm
In consideration of this letter from High Road for Human Rights, I ask the Utah Legislature to put aside the issue of Climate Change as a pawn between liberals and conservatives, and to act in Utah's long term interests. Resisting efforts to save the planet from climate change calamity, and simply be more energy efficient in the process, is a form of protectionism pure and simple and in the end will be as economically bankrupt as it is morally.
I lived in Beaver and Cedar City for many years, as well as being from Montana before moving to Alberta. I can't believe Utah state reps would do something so anti-intellectual as this bill.
I agree that the focus should be on the future of Utah, and not on convincing an irrational group of people that climate change exists. We're not going to convince a stubborn group of anything except what is in their interest. I'd therefore like to see the arguments framed as a focus on the availability of alternatives and the external costs of burning fossil fuels such as increased health care costs. Utah has the ability to nurture new veins of research, entrepreneurship, business and manufacturing by embracing new energy technologies. Continuing to cling to fossil fuels is like refusing to reach out to help when you're drowning.
The letter is excellent. I believe the word that most bothers the "non-believers" is "crisis." In a letter to my state senator, I made the point that regardless of whether there is a "crisis" or not, it makes good sense to promote sustainability and responsible actions that improve air quality and energy independence. The passage of these resolutions sends the wrong message to the public...that there is no problem at all! Wrong!
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Posted by Bill Barron on February 16, 2010 5:55 pm
Well done! A great opportunity to build momentum at a critical time.
Posted by Jim Kirkland on February 16, 2010 6:30 pm
We need to innovate with new and improved technologies and conserve energy. The US needs to do all it can do to cut CO2, but we are still toast as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil.... will keep expanding their use of fossil fuels. The Earth's temperature will continue to rise and our nation, and the world better start planning accordingly.
That does not mean to join the tea-baggers and bury our heads in the sand. We need to push technologies that are online now or can be soon. Clean coal is a fantasy, but nuclear power is not. Can we improve on nuclear in the 21st century from what we have built up to now ? I don't know, but with the human factor, we should best be looking at other technologies.
The best thing we can do is work on small technologies (like the personal computer, cell phones, etc.), that can be used to wean our homes off the national energy grid. Improve insulation, increased energy efficiency, passive and active solar energy technologies, wind, backyard geothermal to buffer heating and cooling our homes, and most important energy storage in the form of at home hydrogen production and fuel cells. Just imagine each home making its own fuel for its car and just trading in the tanks at service centers on long trips. These are the technologies that will be the technologies of the future. Big energy may not be a fan of this, but what can be more American than personal energy independence.
You are in a position to help move these personal energy technologies forward. I'm a paleontologist, and worse yet I’m in Utah, so all I can do is rant into the ether. But, this can be done and we had better get started or climate change will be even worse crises than I, unfortunately, think it will be anyway. The time to start was yesterday, but maybe we cam ameliorate the effects if we start doing SOMETHING NOW.
Posted by Sam Schmidt on February 16, 2010 8:58 pm
In consideration of this letter from High Road for Human Rights, I ask the Utah Legislature to put aside the issue of Climate Change as a pawn between liberals and conservatives, and to act in Utah's long term interests. Resisting efforts to save the planet from climate change calamity, and simply be more energy efficient in the process, is a form of protectionism pure and simple and in the end will be as economically bankrupt as it is morally.
Posted by Randolph Haluza-DeLay on February 17, 2010 6:05 pm
I lived in Beaver and Cedar City for many years, as well as being from Montana before moving to Alberta. I can't believe Utah state reps would do something so anti-intellectual as this bill.
Posted by deb henry on February 18, 2010 10:45 pm
I agree that the focus should be on the future of Utah, and not on convincing an irrational group of people that climate change exists. We're not going to convince a stubborn group of anything except what is in their interest. I'd therefore like to see the arguments framed as a focus on the availability of alternatives and the external costs of burning fossil fuels such as increased health care costs. Utah has the ability to nurture new veins of research, entrepreneurship, business and manufacturing by embracing new energy technologies. Continuing to cling to fossil fuels is like refusing to reach out to help when you're drowning.
Posted by Michael Mielke on February 20, 2010 2:42 pm
RIGHT IDEA, RIGHT TIME. LET'S GET EVERYONE WE KNOW ON-BOARD.
Posted by Peggy Wilson on March 1, 2010 8:06 am
I think this a great letter, that said, do we think they will actually read anything longer than 1 page. Just saying...
Posted by Sue Martin on March 9, 2010 7:41 pm
The letter is excellent. I believe the word that most bothers the "non-believers" is "crisis." In a letter to my state senator, I made the point that regardless of whether there is a "crisis" or not, it makes good sense to promote sustainability and responsible actions that improve air quality and energy independence. The passage of these resolutions sends the wrong message to the public...that there is no problem at all! Wrong!