Letter to the Editor for Nov. 18
I've lived in Ann Arbor my entire life, and I have seen how even the most passionate environmentalists can still use more energy than they need. As a student of environmental studies at U-M, I’ve also learned that Michigan’s current energy portfolio, dominated by fossil fuels, is not sustainable and threatens our environment and health.
Perhaps what’s more surprising is how this situation persists despite the fact that there is no shortage of clean energy sources in Michigan - the power of the wind and the heat of the sun are all around us. Furthermore, we have the technology and know-how to harness it right now. In fact, in Michigan, wind already powers 130,000 homes and supports about 4,000 to 5,000 jobs.
It is high time to build on our progress and set a path forward, but critical clean energy tax credits will expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts. We need to work together to let Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin know that they should support extending the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) and the offshore wind investment tax credit (ITC) as soon as possible to ensure a cleaner, healthier future for Michigan.
Evan Granito
Ann Arbor
Comments
Paul Wehr
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
What is confusing about your letter is that you claim that "we have the technology and know-how to harness it right now", yet the only "path forward" is to surrender still more liberty and property to the oligarchy (which has clearly had no effect on climate, regardless of "party"). If you really cared about the environment at all, you would be working to deploy the technology and know-how you describe above toward putting this renewable power on the grid. Anything else is a distraction, and a waste of your passion.
outdoor6709
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
I would love to see Argo dam, Milan, Dexter dams rebuilt to produce electricity. Lets look at Antartic sea ice instead of just picking data in your favor. Based on models Anartic ice should be shrinking but it is actually increasing. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324073504578113120288312846.html Why is it believers start their data in 1970's? Because that makes them look the best. So I assume we should also call the good senators and tell them not to waste our money on bad ideas.
Ryan M
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
What are you really getting at here? Is it that you agree with Mr.Granito but do not agree with climate change? "Lets look at Antartic sea ice instead of just picking data in your favor. " A- What? B- Way off topic C- The Wall Street Journal article makes sense but not in the way you are trying to use it. D-"Why is it believers start their data in 1970's?" What are you referring to? Couldn't be this article. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/10/15/1014151/ten-charts-that-make-clear-the-planet-just-keeps-warming/?mobile=nc Lets delve into it for a moment. Beginning times for the graphs: 1850, 1850, 1880, 1950, 1800, 1850, 2005, and 1900 respectively. E- "So I assume we should also call the good senators and tell them not to waste our money on bad ideas." - Yes. Do you believe in science?
Ryan M
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 : 2:13 a.m.
Outdoor6709 you sound sour. Your first sentence doesn't make any sense. Mr.Granito is encouraging people who agree with him to contact our legislature in an effort to progress towards using locally available power. This is hardly forcing other people to do anything. Your second sentence is a question- I think. The answer is yes, we did vote down that particular proposal, for better or for worse. Perhaps it would have been passed had it not been an amendment to the Michigan constitution. The first link you included is simply wrong and the second is a red herring.Sir Tron First article: "Sadly, denial springs eternal. Long-debunked denier David Rose has an article in the Daily Mail, "Global warming stopped 16 years ago, reveals Met Office report quietly released … and here is the chart to prove it." The piece is so misleading, even the UK Met Office felt a need to instantly debunk it" http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/10/15/1014151/ten-charts-that-make-clear-the-planet-just-keeps-warming/?mobile=nc How many jobs would be created if Ann Arbor rebuilt the failing Argo dam as a hydro electric power plant? I'm willing to bet there would be no jobs lost from that. What if we used more solar power? Check out the new array on UM's North campus on the South side of Plymouth road. Some one's getting paid to build that or at least keeping their job. Bring more jobs to town to create more power.
outdoor6709
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.
It must be nice to believe "I can save the world, if I force others to do as I want them". Did we not just vote down green energy requirements. Please read http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2217286/Global-warming-stopped-16-years-ago-reveals-Met-Office-report-quietly-released--chart-prove-it.html Or maybe http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2217286/Global-warming-stopped-16-years-ago-reveals-Met-Office-report-quietly-released--chart-prove-it.html Obama loved Spain's green energy policy despite the fact that every job created in the sector cost 2.2 private sector jobs. Gabriel Calzada's full study can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/d7z9ye