Twyla Smith - unpublished 5/2017 - Fossil Fuels vs. Renewal Energy

I’m writing in response to Russell Harland’s recent letter regarding fossil fuels vs. renewal energy.  Mr. Harland contends renewal energy companies shouldn’t need subsidies to be competitive; ignoring the massive hand-outs the fossil fuel industry has enjoyed for many decades. 

It’s true renewables are beginning to get a bigger slice of the pie—and they should.  Who wouldn’t prefer to support energy sources that free us from increasing reliance on foreign countries, and from the pollution, environment degradation and health consequences of fossil fuels? 

When examining the energy programs of Australia and Canada, I believe Mr. Harland fails to look at the whole picture.  Canada’s soon to be implemented plan is based on British Columbia’s, which has been in place since 2008, and has lowered carbon emissions while their economy kept pace with the rest of the country.  It’s been a success, and remains very popular!

Sadly, by failing to return the monies collected back to their people, the Australian plan was doomed.  The lesson learned is that the “dividend” component of any carbon fee is absolutely necessary to protect both consumers and the economy.

Canada’s plan, once proved successful, could be our role model for the future.

Twyla Smith

May 2017

Pete Moe - 5/3/2017 - When will Rep. Devin Nunes figure out fossil fuels are yesterday’s power?

When will Rep. Devin Nunes figure out fossil fuels are yesterday’s power?

May 03, 2017 12:02 PM

In his latest email to constituents, Congressman Devin Nunes congratulates President Trump for opening up offshore oil drilling. He says this will “relieve our dependence on hostile and unstable energy suppliers, create jobs, and strengthen America’s international influence.”
I wonder if Nunes and Trump realize that according to the 2016 U.S. Department of Energy report, solar energy employed more people than the coal, gas, and oil combined. Within the Electric Power Generation sector, solar employed 43 percent of the sector’s workforce, while fossil fuels combined employed just 22 percent of the workforce.
Meanwhile in China, the government energy agency announced in January that it intended to spend $360 billion on solar and wind energy through 2020.
Renewable, clean energy is the energy of the future. Our political leaders need to get on board with this concept, or get left behind in the international race for innovative and job-creating energy sources.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article148388364.html#storylink=cpyRenewable, clean energy is the energy of the future. Our political leaders need to get on board with this concept, or get left behind in the international race for innovative and job-creating energy sources.

Pete Moe, Clovis

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article148388364.html#storylink=cpy

Pete Moe, Clovis

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article148388364.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article148388364.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article148388364.html

Bruce Ratcliffe - 4/2017 unpublished - Out of Sight

Out of Sight. . .
     With rainfall and Sierra snowpack around 170% of normal, Governor
Brown has declared California’s drought over–but not in the San Joaquin
Valley.  Huh?   Consider these facts:  The Central Valley is the world’s
largest patch of Class One soil, the best for crops, and produces about
40% of the country’s fruits, nuts and vegetables.  Unfortunately, our
agricultural practices are not sustainable.  The drought has led
desperate farmers to sink wells deeper than their neighbors–a race to
the bottom.  Mark Cowin, director of California’s Department of Water
Resources (DWR) recently stated,  “Because of increased pumping,
groundwater levels are reaching record lows – up to 100 ft lower than
previous records.”
     Some say we should build more dams–storage in case of another
drought.  But we already have more than enough storage.  DWR estimates
our total underground storage capacity is twenty times greater than all
California’s reservoirs put together.  We’ve been blessed with a huge,
but shrinking, water “savings account”.   We’ve been making many more
withdrawals than deposits.  We’re still suffering from a drought, but
it’s hiding underground.  Until we refill the Valley’s water table to
pre-drought levels, OUR drought will not be over.  Call it “saving for a
non-rainy day.”
Bruce Ratcliffe
April 2017

Connie Young - 3/30/2017 - There is a sensible response to climate change

There is a sensible response to climate change

March 30, 2017 4:39 PM

The Trump administration’s disappointing rollback of emission standards demonstrates the problem with using regulations to address climate change: Regulations can be easily undone when political winds blow in a new direction. Instead, we need Congress to pass bipartisan climate-change legislation.
Fortunately, the House Climate Solutions Caucus is leading the way on this issue. Begun by just two members last year, this bipartisan caucus has grown to 26 members, comprised of 13 Republicans and 13 Democrats.
Rep. Carlos Curbelo, Republican co-chair of the caucus, just spoke out against the administration’s rollback of carbon-emission standards saying, “Climate change is also a threat to our national security and local economies across the country. We cannot, and must not, ignore these challenges. I continue to believe economic growth and dealing with this threat are not mutually exclusive.
“We have a responsibility to our citizens and future generations to support market-based solutions, investments, and innovations that could alleviate the effects of climate change and make our nation more resilient.”

Our local representatives Jim Costa, Tom McClintock, Devin Nunes and David Valadao should join these bold Republicans and Democrats in demonstrating leadership on this critically important issue.

Connie Young, Fresno

http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article141589289.html

Don Gaede - March 15, 2017 - Take a tip from Reagan: Help the environment

Take a tip from Reagan: Help the environment

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt said he doesn’t think human activity is a primary contributor to global warming: “We need to continue the debate and continue the review and the analysis.”
In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan was confronted with scientific evidence that manmade chemicals were depleting Earth’s ozone layer. Although he didn’t have 100 percent proof, he acted anyway, and signed the Montreal Protocol. The protocol called on all nations to transition to chemicals that did not harm our atmosphere. As it turned out, Reagan acted just in time, and the ozone hole is shrinking.
We now have NASA and many major scientific bodies saying human CO2 is warming our planet. We don’t have 100 percent proof, but there’s enough evidence for prudent, conservative people to act – call it an insurance policy.
Former Reagan Secretary of State George Schultz has written, “We all know there are those who have doubts about the problems presented by climate change. But if these doubters are wrong, the evidence is clear that the consequences, while varied, will be mostly bad, some catastrophic.”
Let’s be Reaganesque, and take out an insurance policy – just in case Mr. Pruitt is wrong.

Don Gaede, Fresno
March 15, 2017

 http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article138562523.html

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article138562523.html#storylink=cpy

Connie Young - unpublished March 2017 - Sharing good news.

I'd like to share some news that gives me hope in these troubled times.

Two more members of Congress have joined the House Climate Solutions Caucus. This is a bipartisan group in the US House of Representatives which will explore policy options that address the impacts, causes, and challenges of our changing climate. Beginning only last year with just two members, it’s membership has already grown to twenty-eight. Members must join in pairs...one Republican, one Democrat. 

I take heart in knowing that a growing number of legislators are willing to set aside their political differences to work together on the challenges posed climate change. Rising temperatures and sea levels are already threatening our food and water supplies, air quality, forests, oceans, and coastlines (including military bases). We simply cannot afford to keep kicking this problem down the road.

I applaud these courageous members of Congress who are putting national security above party loyalty. Who of our local members of Congress will be the first to reach across the aisle for the honor of representing the San Joaquin Valley on this important caucus?

Connie Young

Bruce Ratcliffe - unpublished February 2017 - Earth First!

Earth First!
     Recently astronomers announced the discovery of seven Earth-size
planets orbiting a nearby star.  They’re excited about looking for
evidence that life has evolved there.  Perhaps they need not waste their
time.
     Consider: there are 100 billion stars in our galaxy.  SETI (Search
for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) has been looking for life out there
for half a century.  The basic idea is that any civilization advanced
enough to have invented radio would now be sending out a steady “I’m
here!” (Think: Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who”) signal. This would be
easily picked up with SETI’s extremely sensitive radio telescopes.
     So far?--nothing. Hmmmm.
     Here’s a sobering theory: Any civilization with modern electronics
would require lots of electricity to run, electricity generated by, say,
burning of fossil fuels.  They became so addicted to the lifestyle that
oil made possible, they couldn’t cut back even when it became clear
where they were heading.  Rising CO2 levels caused runaway heating of
their planet, cooked everyone.
     Citizens’ Climate Lobby has a workable plan to stop global warming
before it stops us.  Let’s make Earth be the first planet to avoid the
fate that brought civilizations on all the others to an end.

Bruce Ratcliffe