To me I think this is long overdue (though given who was in charge for the last decade it's not surprising). Perhaps this will expedite our need to move to alternative fuels. Fossil Fuels aren't Forever Fuels and will be depleted at some point - let's pretend we are already there and ramp up solar and wind power production.
I'm currently reading Carl Safina's book "The View from Lazy Point" that illustrates the lack of foresight we have had in this country when it came to our resources. The idea has always been "it's plentiful now, why will that change"? Well when you use it all up, it won't be there anymore. We need our Wild Lands. Southeast Alaska was at one time on the verge of being clear cut for Timber with Salmon practically wiped out from overfishing. Today it's the last singificant stand of Pacific Rainforest and is almost entirely wild - a treasure for the tens of thousands who visit it cruise ship each year.
Posted by John W. Wall on March 2, 2011 at 5:53 PM
It's hard to know what to think about anything anymore. Much of what I read or see on the tube sounds like infotainment or propaganda.
I didnt know there was anything to trust here--the link i just read sounded fairly impartial to me.
Luke--careful what you ask for--solar/wind etc may be 'cleaner' but it can be environmentally destructive as well--case in point, the giant solar panels they want to stick in full view of my favorite national park when the same solar energy could be better gathered from smaller distributed local sources. The real enemy is the idea that we must have more,more,more, that only bigger will do, and that only those plans that benefit large corporations are the right ones...
I agree with Stan. Too much is never enough. I'm a native Wyomingite and, like most of those who live in this state, I treasure our public lands. But very little of it is actually "wild" or "wilderness" Most of it is in use...as oil fields, grazing lands, and playgrounds for people. I'd say it's a little late to decide any of our public land should have protection as wild land. What our puplic land needs is protection as PUBLIC land and commercial interests (oil, gas, agriculture) need to be limited to a reasonable amount and monitored and regulated by rules and laws that are already in place for that purpose. Unfortunately, money talks louder than sage grouse call and will always smell sweeter than rain washed sage.
I'm late to this discussion and I couldn't get the story to load but I see the gist of what is being said. We truly do need to look at the benefits and costs of the alternative energy sources. Wind power is a big deal in CA but the wind farms at Altamont Pass chew up hundreds of raptors and other birds every year. The solar projects being proposed for the CA desert will make 10's of thousands of acres unsuitable for anything else. Proposals would cover the land with the panels. No flowers, birds, insects, mammals, reptiles (well maybe a few). But can you envision one project that would cover 10,000 acres with panels? These are being pushed hard by the state and Federal government with expedited reviews. Which never are as good. Yeah, we need to look closely at all the costs. Conservation is one action that has little negative consequence except in the pocketbook of the sellers of energy.
Peter
Posted by Dan Roberts on March 10, 2011 at 11:37 PM
...Conservation is one action that has little negative consequence...
Amen.
The biggest problem faced by society is the inherent hypocricy of man. We don't have to change anything but our lifestyles to cut our consumption of fossil fuels in half. Take turns driving to work with a friend. Not a car pool. Just one other person. Gas consumption cut in half. We spent two hundred dollars on occupancy switches in our home, put up a clothes line rather than running the drier, and turned the heater thermostat down to 60 degrees, home energy consumption cut by half. There are opportunities everywhere but people aren't willing to change anything. Everyone wants someone else to solve the problem or make the sacrifices. Yes build that wind farm just not don't ruin my view or kill the birds. Solar panels? Not in my yard, where will the dog pee? Lower the speed limit to 55 but not on the roads I take to work, I might have to leave for work ten minutes earlier in the morning.
It's a real shame that our education system has lost its focus on science, math, and history. Pesonally I wish I had studied journalism so that I could just buy into the fiction that is now all the rage. Understanding the realities of life is really depressing. And understanding world history doesn't paint a rosy picture...
Discussion
6 replieshttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41852168/ns/us_news-environment/
I wondering what folks on here think about this, especially those in who live in these states. Thanks for your time, thoughts, opinions, and input.
Michael
To me I think this is long overdue (though given who was in charge for the last decade it's not surprising). Perhaps this will expedite our need to move to alternative fuels. Fossil Fuels aren't Forever Fuels and will be depleted at some point - let's pretend we are already there and ramp up solar and wind power production.
I'm currently reading Carl Safina's book "The View from Lazy Point" that illustrates the lack of foresight we have had in this country when it came to our resources. The idea has always been "it's plentiful now, why will that change"? Well when you use it all up, it won't be there anymore. We need our Wild Lands. Southeast Alaska was at one time on the verge of being clear cut for Timber with Salmon practically wiped out from overfishing. Today it's the last singificant stand of Pacific Rainforest and is almost entirely wild - a treasure for the tens of thousands who visit it cruise ship each year.
Luke--careful what you ask for--solar/wind etc may be 'cleaner' but it can be environmentally destructive as well--case in point, the giant solar panels they want to stick in full view of my favorite national park
Peter
Amen.
The biggest problem faced by society is the inherent hypocricy of man. We don't have to change anything but our lifestyles to cut our consumption of fossil fuels in half. Take turns driving to work with a friend. Not a car pool. Just one other person. Gas consumption cut in half. We spent two hundred dollars on occupancy switches in our home, put up a clothes line rather than running the drier, and turned the heater thermostat down to 60 degrees, home energy consumption cut by half. There are opportunities everywhere but people aren't willing to change anything. Everyone wants someone else to solve the problem or make the sacrifices. Yes build that wind farm just not don't ruin my view or kill the birds. Solar panels? Not in my yard, where will the dog pee? Lower the speed limit to 55 but not on the roads I take to work, I might have to leave for work ten minutes earlier in the morning.
It's a real shame that our education system has lost its focus on science, math, and history. Pesonally I wish I had studied journalism so that I could just buy into the fiction that is now all the rage. Understanding the realities of life is really depressing. And understanding world history doesn't paint a rosy picture...