Sun editorial:

Are we able and ready?

Al Gore has challenged us to move past coal and oil and toward a new energy age

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

A presidential speech was given last week, challenging Americans to change their long-held notions about energy and help move this country swiftly toward a new age.

Too bad the speech wasn’t given by the president.

It was instead given by Al Gore, who has over the past several years filled the void left by the White House on issues associated with climate change and its link to fossil fuels.

Gore’s outspokenness and activism earned him the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, as well as the respect of millions of people who look to him as the voice of authority and reason on renewable energy.

Speaking Thursday in Washington, Gore said, “Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.”

The former vice president offered a litany of reasons why the switch to a new energy age must begin now, including: the rapid melting of Arctic ice, longer droughts, more record floods and forest fires, increased numbers of tornadoes and the threat of populations around the world becoming destabilized.

These terrible scenarios are not embellishments spoken by an ambitious office seeker. Gore isn’t running for anything, and scientists the world over vouch for their veracity.

Whether 10 years is a reasonable time frame for achieving revolutionary change is beside the point, in our view, and we hope debate over Gore’s speech does not get bogged down in that particular argument.

What is important is that the world is rapidly warming because of the unnaturally high amount of greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere. Drastically cutting back on the burning of oil and other fossil fuels is our only chance of avoiding more severe climate change over the next decades.

No leader has really set a major challenge for our country since President Kennedy, and even that challenge mostly involved the space industry. Gore has offered a challenge that needs everyone’s participation, in ways large and small. Let’s take him up on it.

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

By KDR81

7/22/08 at 8:34 a.m.

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The difference between Gore and the actual scientists is the language being used. The scientists are very cautious, Gore is not. Scientists are using moderate words Gore is using absolutes. Gore and his ilk are bending and twisting the studies of the scientists to push a pseudo-science socialist agenda of their own.
By laguna

7/22/08 at 9:23 a.m.

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The Sun never met an extremist that they didnt adore. But only those on the far left.
By rusty57

7/22/08 at 10:06 a.m.

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I fear environmental extremism worse than i've ever feared islamic extremism.
By mfm028

7/22/08 at 10:34 a.m.

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The great thing about Al Gore is that he offers wonderful pipe dreams. So how exactly are we supposed to become 100% dependent on renewable energy in 10 years? I can't think of 1 feasible alternative that can have an infrastructure in place within 10 years on that scale. Correct me if I'm wrong.
By jfnance32

7/22/08 at 11:58 a.m.

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That is right.

The Vegas Sun, Obama and Reid all say no
1) No to new oil and natural gas drilling
2) No to coal
3) No to nuclear

4) Yes to higher energy prices

5) No to Las Vegas who are losing their jobs to high gas prices

Obama has even said that he likes high gas prices.

To have an electric car and the energy system to support it will take least 30 years according to Obama.

It is wise to drill now instead of letting trillions of dollars leave this country.
By thebs

7/22/08 at 7:42 p.m.

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Wait, so today it's 30 years for Obama's plan to work, Nance?

Or is it 40 years (which you claimed on the 8th), or 60 years (which you claimed on the 7th), or 50 years (which you also claimed on the 7th), or until 2070 (which was the other date you claimed on the 7th)?

What's changed?

And trillions of dollars leave the country? Are you saying we have the oil capacity to be self-sufficient? Please, prove your thesis.

Oh, wait... you can't. You only parrot the neocon lies you hear on AM radio. Your debunked and inane scribblings belong with Hannity and Rush, with all the other kool-aid drinking neocons.
By JohnF

7/22/08 at 9:51 p.m.

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Energy independence is not about environmental extremism. It's about national security and prosperity. Clean, safe, renewable sources of energy will do more to ensure our continued peace and prosperity than anything else.
By odeman

7/22/08 at 9:51 p.m.

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If we are in such a huge crisis, why doesn't big Al take that $300 million propaganda fund and use it to fund research instead of making Madison Avenue and TV execs rich. If one takes a good look at the players in the enviromental movement, one would notice that a lot of these people have money and some have impressive credentials. Wouldn't it be better if these people put their money and expertise into an enterprise to build the miracle machines we need instead of wasting it on lawyers and lawsuits. Or are they taking the easy way out because it's easier and more ego fulfilling to give speeches than doing actual work.
By jfnance32

7/22/08 at 10:40 p.m.

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Al Gore is now worth over $100 million dollars.

Boy, are you all suckers.

Two years ago, people complained that his big house used enough energy for 12 regular houses.

So this past year, he "greened" his house.

LOL....after "greened" his energy usage went up 10%!!!!!
By uddeboda

7/27/08 at 10:30 a.m.

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What will change when Obama takes office, perhaps not all that much. It could well be a carry on as usual. When Bush entered office in 2000, he surrounded himself with pro-fossil fuel suits, it was his way of thanking them for the very generous contributions they had made towards the campaign. Of course we all know that he tore up the Kyoto treaty, as it might affect the USA economy, didnt help much in that respect, the economy still went to pieces, and emissions continued to pollute. Just how much the very same organisations have donated this time around, who knows??, but there is always fossil fuel monies in their millions when they feel that their dreamtime may be coming to an end.