This page was last updated on August 11, 2014.
Climate change actions necessary; Dewitt Walton; Beaver County Times; August 7, 2014.
An editor’s note for a previous Walton letter said, “The writer is the special assistant to the International President, United Steelworkers.” As a reminder, the “International President, United Steelworkers” (Leo W. Gerard) is a foreign national.
A previous Walton letter was “Respond to climate change.”
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“We have a lot to gain from taking action to address climate change.”
[RWC] This letter is of the same quality as Mr. Walton’s previous letter.
“By reducing the carbon pollution causing our world to warm, we will put America on the edge of innovation in clean, renewable energy — creating family-sustaining jobs along the way.”
[RWC] Mr. Walton doesn’t define “clean, renewable energy” and tell us how this would “creating family-sustaining jobs.”
You can identify leftist-approved energy sources because they are not currently technically and/or economically viable enough to provide large amounts of energy. By “economically viable” I mean the ability to compete in the marketplace without subsidies, tax credits, et cetera. As soon as “clean, renewable energies” get close to commercial viability, they are no longer deemed “clean, renewable energy.” We’ve seen this already with some hydro, wind, and solar projects.
While we’re using pricey “clean, renewable energy” and most of the rest of the world uses cheaper “fossil fuel,” how do we compete economically? Here’s a thought. Does anyone doubt our “clean, renewable energy” equipment would end up being manufactured offshore in countries using cheap, carbon-containing energy, like India, Red China, and so on?
Does Mr. Walton support nuclear power?
“We can’t turn back the clock and undo the damage that’s been done, but we can grasp this opportunity to make our energy as efficient as possible and ensure that Pennsylvania — and America — are not left behind the rest of the world in this innovation economy.”
[RWC] What “damage” has been done by “climate change?” Mr. Walton seems to think there’s a link between energy efficiency and the carbon content of a fuel. There is not.
Innovation is driven by economics and vice versa. If there’s no potential economic benefit, innovation doesn’t happen.
Please read my paper “Manmade Global Warming.”
© 2004-2014 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.