Transition to clean energy

by Sarah Meisinger
Director of Field Education
St. Cloud State University
Most people agree we should quickly take action to lessen climate change. I don’t think I’m a liberal in thinking that. I’m a rational human being who wants more clean power and less lung-damaging pollutants, fire, drought and extreme weather events. Isn't that the case whether we live in urban areas or rural? We’re all in this together. Climate change is happening. Everyone in the world can see it. It’s caused by the sun’s heat being trapped by steadily increasing atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels. Scientists demonstrated this in the 1850s. Just in the nick of time, we have technologies available to address the problem, regardless of those who would have you believe otherwise. Renewable energy options can meet our needs. And for those who believe we’ll go cold and dark “when the wind don’t blow and the sun don’t shine,” energy storage options are growing. Every American auto manufacturer is building electric vehicles. Ford’s F-150 Lightning begins production next week with the first year or two of orders already booked. Innovative companies are already profitably recycling 95 percent of battery material – to make new batteries. Politicians, influenced perhaps by money from fossil fuel companies, don’t always act in the best interests of voters. Instead, they capitalize on causing discord between us. And I suppose that’s where some folks get the liberal/conservative notion. But those are politicians, not rational citizens. Ask your representatives why they don’t agree with the need to accelerate our transition to clean energy. See if the answer you receive is rational…or political.