Global Warming

A few days after my family enjoyed watching "Happy Feet", my nine yr. old reminded me that global warming was "supposed to melt the glaciers and all the beauty". Now while I am impressed that the educational system is doing its job and making the children aware of real issues that will affect their lifestyles.

I am concerned that our leadership is not as proactive with environmental legislation as is needed. I would prefer that our children would not have to worry, because they knew the adults were taking care of these crucial matters.

Recently Luke Metzger, the Environment Texas Director, put out another of his informative emails on clean energy as follows:

"Right now, America is failing to take advantage of our almost unlimited potential to generate electricity from renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power.

* The wind blowing through the Great Plains could generate enough electricity to power the entire country. Wind power installations in the United States have doubled over the last four years, and wind power is among the cheapest sources of new power generation in some parts of the country.

* Solar energy could conceivably generate more than enough electricity to power the entire United States. The cost of solar panels has declined dramatically in recent years and solar power installations worldwide nearly doubled between 2002 and 2004. Continued advances in solar technology could bring solar power within reach of more Americans within the next several years.

* Plant-based sources of energy, called "biomass," already provide a substantial amount of energy in America and can provide even more. A federal advisory group has set a target of having biomass account for 5 percent of industrial and electric generator energy use by 2020.

* Immense amounts of energy are contained within the earth. Experts estimate that as much as 100,000 megawatts of geothermal power -- equal to about 10 percent of today's electricity generation capacity -- could be economically viable in the United States.

Thankfully, America is the most technologically and economically advanced nation in the world, blessed with vast natural and intellectual resources. Our nation has a track record of responding to major challenges and achieving unthinkable goals. If any nation in the world is capable of creating an energy system that can fuel our economy while preserving our environment and our long-term security, it is us.

For America to retain our economic vigor, national security and environmental health, we must build toward a New Energy Future -- one based on homegrown, environmentally friendly energy sources and the sensible use of energy throughout the economy. We have the tools to achieve a better energy future -- in the technological prowess of academia and industry, the cutting-edge public policies now being pioneered in states across the country, and in our vast reserves of energy from the sun, wind and crops.

The technology to tap those resources is advancing rapidly and is increasingly competitive in cost with fossil fuel technologies. And, momentum around renewable energy policies is building. Already, 22 states have already adopted policies requiring utilities to increase their use of renewable energy. But, we need to make a national commitment to dramatically increase the amount of renewable energy we use to generate our power.

We're asking citizens to join us in calling on Congress to adopt a Renewable Electricity Standard that would require that utilities generate at least 20 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2020.

Wind power could provide as much as 30 percent of America's electricity by 2025 and possibly more as new technologies and practices allow for us to successfully integrate more wind power into America's electricity mix.

Solar and geothermal power can combine to produce another 12 percent of America's electricity, while an assortment of other renewable technologies -- ranging from solar hot water heaters to geothermal heat pumps -- can also make an important contribution.

Additional renewable energy could be generated using new technologies such as wave and tidal power or by achieving technological improvements that would enable us to expand our use of other renewable energy sources.

Our representatives in congress have the chance to take this important step by co-sponsoring a federal renewable energy standard which requires that 20% of our energy comes from renewable sources by the year 2020. Ask your representative to step away from the energy past and toward a new energy future by clicking on the link below or copying and pasting it into your web browser. Then, ask your friends and family to help out by sharing this message with them.

https://www.environmenttexas.org/action/energy/petition?id4=ES

I find it highly encouraging that environmental groups are
working smart and are gathering petitions of support online. I encourage them to utilize social media as a tool to rally grassroots efforts to influence legislation
that will lead the way in protecting our environment.