Blog: Whose Pie is That in the Sky, Mitt?

Mitt Romney, in describing his energy policy, wants first and foremost to foster oil and coal development. No surprise there. Big Oil has found their man.

Other alternative energies, as Mitt describes his vision, are just “pie in the sky.” Really?

He ignores important and obvious facts and just plays pretend. Shall we “play pretend” along with him—in a play date from hell?

Let’s pretend July wasn’t the hottest month ever in all U.S. recorded history.

Pretend, too, that more than 30 National Academies of Science have not concluded the thousands of such extremes worldwide are due to our dumping a trillion tons of carbon dioxide excreta into our very fragile, very thin atmosphere.

The American Meteorological Society—the weathercasters—just got on board. Finally!

Let’s just pretend that when he hands America’s precious lands and waters over to oil and coal, the industry will promise to behave, and, then, actually behave. What BP spill?

Or, that Mitt cares so much about families he would put health regulations into place, as in reducing mercury emissions.

Let’s pretend that domestic oil production will lower prices at the pump, even though it never has before.

Or, that jobs are so important to Mitt.

Although offering $2.3 billion more in new tax breaks to oil, he opposed tax credits to wind energy projects, which would axe 37,000 jobs in the process. And 570,000 new jobs from higher CAFE standards? Gone.

Instead of Mitt's make believe, consider:

Our climate has changed (and disastrously so) from only a +1.5 degrees F. increase in temperature. Our climate is on track to go from the current added 1.5 deg F warming to 11 degrees F warming if we pursue endless “drill, baby drill” policies—and coal! Seven times higher. Far beyond irreversible. Beyond private or government help.

Mother Nature will not be playing peekaboo, no matter what Ryan's winning dimples or sweet talk.

It would be “game over” for civilization, say the experts. What do the experts know, you say? Actually, their specific predictions have been spot on—well, maybe, too conservative—for decades, unlike the paid jive of the hoaxsters, with their worthless paranoia and pose of "thoughtfulness".

Personally, Mitt seems a cautious fellow. For example, I bet he has fire insurance, on the slim chance he will need it. Yet, for the U.S., he is willing to bet the house that droughts, fires, rising sea levels, storms, and floods have nothing to do with carbon emissions.

Mitt, the riverboat gambler goes all in with our lives and our future. Although scientists and the environment have been blinking red. Mitt's lack of respect for science is terrifying. But, the lack of business sense from this shrewd businessman is surprising. Unless, of course, he's eyeing a few more bucks from the Oil lobby.

Mitt Romney states, “In place of real energy, Obama has focused on an imaginary world where government-subsidized windmills and solar panels could power the economy. This vision has failed.” 

Imaginary? Really? Time for some facts.

To quote Citizens Climate Lobby: “Solar power has become cheaper than new nuclear power in North Carolina, and the trend is similar across the nation.”

And, New Jersey “plans to generate 3 percent of its electricity from solar power and 12 percent from offshore wind by 2020, when 30 percent of the state’s electricity will come from carbon-free resources.”

We could follow the example of Portugal, which is using 47 percent renewable energy this year. Or, Germany, which is approaching 40 percent to 50 percent.

Green energy systems have a far higher growth potential than dirty energy and have created far more jobs (by a factor of two to 11 times) for every dollar invested.

In 2007 alone, Green energy sales of $1 trillion outperformed the $900-billion combined sales of Exxon-Mobil, GM and Wal-Mart. 2007! Growth has been huge in the five years since.

Earth to Mitt: “The Pie in the Sky has landed," to paraphrase Neil Armstrong.

It is good business to go further. Here’s the view of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, which represents $ 20 trillion in assets and whose mission includes raising awareness of the financial risks as well as investment opportunities arising from climate change and climate policy:

“Those countries that succeed in attracting private capital into low-carbon growth areas such as cleaner and renewable energy, energy efficiency and decarbonisation will enjoy multiple benefits, including new jobs, new businesses, new research and technology innovation, more resilient and secure energy systems and, ultimately, more sustainable economies.” Click here to read more.

Government can encourage this process (as they did with the Internet, fracking, etc.). The most favored approach is to institute carbon fees and dividends, whereby the carbon fees are used to lower taxes, so that it is revenue-neutral. The free market would shift to Green and the Earth's "fever" would subside.

Why don't we do this? The current unconservative GOP would Stand in the Schoolhouse Door. Big Oil and Coal would be furious. Government is the problem, alright?

Please, let's not be "fossil fools" and play pretend in matters of life and death—for our own sake and that of our children. Let's be good stewards, like the Good Book says.