Environmentalists: We need alternative energy … but not anywhere on Earth

In a pre-election post about radical environmentalists I spoke of how they are impossible to please and will not accept a compromise of any kind. Now that we have elected a president and congress beholden to them it’s clear we’re going to start paying the same price as other countries that are left impotent and unable to take meaningful action in ANY direction because “environmentalists” mean it when they say EARTH FIRST! Which means you and your children last.

In Germany, for instance, 27% of the country’s electricity is generated by nuclear plants, but environmentalists got a law through to end that in a matter of years. One problem, though … don’t ask for some other kind of generating plant, because none of them are acceptable. Leaving Germany in somewhat of a bind and forced to buy energy from elsewhere.

Now we’re seeing the same thing in this country; Environmentalists won’t let us drill for our own vast oil or gas resources, they want to “cap and trade” coal fired power plants out of existence (where the vast majority of our power comes from) to make us all pay a fortune and restrict electrical output, but they’re against actually letting us build ANYTHING to take it’s place no matter how “green” it might seem.

* In Central Oregon 2 counties crushed economically in the last few years by environmental rules that won’t let them farm a renewal resource, wood, are now trying to get a large wind farm put in. But environmentalists oppose it, because of sage grouse and various birds that might run into the blades.

* In California, Senator Feinstein is blocking large areas of the Mojave desert for solar power development. Which prompted Republican (?) governor Schwarzenegger to exclaim, “”If we cannot put solar power plants in the Mojave desert, I don’t know where the hell we can put it.” (the answer is no-where on earth, Mr. Schwarzenegger)

* And of course, we all have heard how Senator Kennedy fought to keep a wind farm off of the shores of Cape Cod.

* Every “green” energy project will face heavy opposition, as most are large facilities and will require building transmission lines … and believe me, there is no place in this country you can put a high voltage transmission line and not get a whole lot of lawsuits. The environmental impact statements take years, and few are likely to be approved with our current government.

Let me make this very clear — I am an environmentalist — but a true environmentalist who understands that the world exists for the use of all species of animals, including the humans created in the image of God (AKA the big headed apes that walk upright).

But make no mistake, a study of history shows us that the “balance of nature” is not some kind of delicate creation easily destroyed; it is a cage match for survival of the fittest. Animals don’t study their impact on the planet and act accordingly; each species hunts and breeds as effectively as it can. If it eliminates one food source, it doesn’t cry about it or pass regulations to lessen hunting, it simply moves on to something else. If it has overpopulated its area, then it will die off as a species or until reduced to a sustainable population.

If humans followed animal rules, we would simply eat and have babies and strip away whatever resources we needed until it was all gone. Thankfully, we are not animals. We are the humans to whom God granted stewardship of the Earth (or the apes who gained prescience and now understand the impact of limited resources — how you look at it doesn’t matter, the result is the same).

Which is why I’m an environmentalist. I believe in stewardship of the Earth, and living in Colorado I cherish having so much open space to enjoy. Not to mention the beauty of Utah just to the West of us. I recycle, have a house full of compact flourscent bulbs (besides saving on the energy bill, they almost never burn out), as fuel efficient vehicles as I can afford to get the job done, and high-efficiency heating and airconditiong — besides being earth friendly these are also smart.

But I understand that humans as a species have their place on the earth as much as any other species. AND as much right to have an impact as any other species. And we can’t return to living some kind of all-natural agrarian lifestyle because the Earth has to support 6 billion people — and we need more food production, not less. More energy production, not less.

That’s why we need to fix this gridlock by using our brains and making compromises and determining how we can produce the energy needed (i.e. drilling for oil in our own back yard in an environmentally sound fashion instead of shipping it halfway around the world. Duh!). But the people who label themselves environmentalist and whom the big city arm chair environmentalists/Democrats turn to for guidance (you know the people I’m talking about, rarely out of the city and have a big house with a lot of energy use — Al Gore is the best known example) do not use their brains or make compromises. They merely scream “NO” or “NEIN” like petulant children and leave the rest of us to work things out.

If we stay on the current course, the American people will work things out by voting more reasonable environmentalists into office. But there will be a lot of pain between now and then, and you will pay for it — make no mistake.