The overwhelming majority of the science community around the world recognizes global warming as fact. Anyone with a college background with statistics knows you look for trends. When we have a winter like last year, folks poo-poo the global warming idea, but they neglect the longer term TREND - and the increased RATE of the upward trend of global temperatures. Windmills and solar arrays are GOOD things, but as pointed out above, are not the whole answer. Wind is certainly not guaranteed. But doesn't it make sense to cut sources of pollution wherever we can?? We only have one planet. Do we want to risk the futures of our kids, grandkids, etc. because we chose to stick our heads in the sand and ignore science?? If science is all B.S. - then we should also ignore any medical breakthroughs, cures, treatments, as " crank science ".QUOTE]
Agree Climate Change is occurring but I might disagree at the rate of change and the correct answers on how to resolve it.
I have a childhood friend who I see regularly that is CEO of a large regional Coop in Wisconsin. He goes to Washington and meets with representative regularly regarding energy costs. The representatives listen to him and how it is affecting the people and then vote the party line. The COOP model which most rural energy Cooperatives were developed are chartered for the purpose of bringing low cost energy to the people. Higher energy costs are in conflict with coop purpose and not accepted easily. We have had many discussions about his accounts receivable and how they have changed as energy costs and the economy has struggled. Grandparents are having to pay energy bills so power is not turned off for their children and grandchildren. Sad state of affairs and very hard on low income people. My friend is very close to electrical energy industry and he forecasted the increase in energy costs many years ago. He puts the blame on the environmental movement.
This is my friends words not mine, he calls the environmental movement the new religion, not totally based on science but people are so convinced of it they have blind faith in whatever the environmental leaders say.
Green energy, what do the linemen in your family say about the lost energy in transmitting green energy? Building windmills far from where the energy is consumed therefore transmitting it many miles to consumers and increasing rates to cover costs. Why not have green energy at the point of consumption (small windmill on every house and/or solar panels)? Think of the cost of the infrastructure to build all of those windmills and huge power lines which would not be needed if the green energy was at point of consumption. Probably won't happen as it would be very hard to get consumers to buy their own equipment as consumers would see the cost and instead is easier to bury the costs in rates.
Here is my opinion, higher rates, doubtful it is all going to energy companies bottom line as their rates of returned have not changed over the past 10 years. Linemen losing jobs so management can make more money, most definitely. Cost of energy going up over the nation, its green energy costs driven by the environmental movement.