Myth: Al Gore’s claim in the past that by now the Arctic ice cap would be gone. Fact: Last year, Arctic ice grew by 50 percent; in real terms that is 1,400 cubic miles. According to NOAA.gov, snow coverage has gone up the last 11 years. Other facts: Humans and their activities account for 4 percent of the CO2 entering the atmosphere each year; if the United States was to close down all of its coal-powered plants this would reduce total emissions by 0.01 percent. So if global warming is happening, humans have little if any impact on it.

The alarmists have accomplished some deeds. Locally, La Plata Electric Association’s policy has caused our base rate to increase by 53 percent in the last two years, and with the change due in January, electric rates will have increased by 16 percent in a little more than a year. Nationally, policies have cost the economy hundreds of billions each year, thus many tens of thousands of jobs. We all would like the planet to be clean as possible, but not at the expense of the folks and workers. Finally, and hopefully, the day will come when renewable energy will be reliable, plentiful and cost effective. If so, that day will be created by bright and energetic entrepreneurs and scientists.

Robert Goodrich

Bayfield