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Convenient Solutions for An Inconvenient Truth: The Appalachian Regional Energy Meeting
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by Paul Wilson | 2006

Club Leaders and Staff from the Appalachian Region learn and make plans to address the Global Warming issue

Perhaps you were watching ABC news in late September when they reported that we had until about 2050 to fix the Global Warming issue. This was based on the fact that if nothing is done, then exponential growth in warming trends will begin about that time as we reach the “tipping point” on catastrophic climate change.

The good news is that “convenient solutions” await us and these were discussed at the regional energy conference that was hosted by the Club’s Southern Appalachian Highlands Eco-regional taskforce (or SAHE). The October 6-8 conference featured a number of presentations by Sierra Club Energy Program staff, much discussion on opposing dirty, expensive sources of energy, and a new Powerpoint presentation on Smart Energy Solutions by Club President Lisa Renstrom.

This half-hour presentation will be available to us shortly for Club meetings, community group speaking events and member house parties. With a modicum of charts and graphs the Smart Energy Solutions presentation describes three scenarios: Business as Usual, Current Best Practices, and America Leads. Only the “America Leads” scenario gives us the energy we need, curtails Global Warming, creates new renewable energy jobs and businesses, and makes us independent of Middle Eastern oil. This presentation describes solutions that everyone could do and shows how everyone has a part to play in the solution.

The America Leads scenario involves a 2 % per year reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. If begun now, this scenario is the only option that prevents dangerous climate changes while avoiding the necessity of draconian cuts later. Unfortunately, instead of 2 % reductions, many utilities are proposing new coalfired power plants which would dramatically increase emissions, just when we need to be reducing emissions.

The new Chapter Energy Committee will coordinate and implement some of the plans and goals discussed at this important meeting. If you wish to participate or learn more about the goals of this meeting, please contact Barbara Fallon (brbr_fallon@yahoo.com), Jim Kotcon or Paul Wilson.