Back in the mines
In small towns throughout Wisconsin, grassroots organizations are fighting against ramped up efforts to secure frac sand mining permits.
By
David Giffey
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Excellent article, David. I heard recently on NPR that the natural gas supply in this country is estimated to (perhaps) keep us in this supposedly "cleaner" energy alternative to coal for approximately 14 years.
So, one must ask if it is worth it to plunder the earth and cause devastating environmental disruption and dire human health issues for such a small amount of energy while we get our collective act together to develop the real alternative, sustainable, renewable systems based on geothermal, solar, hydro,and what have you.
Energy conservation is still an excellent plan, meanwhile. We can all do better in this regard, some more than others. Offhand, I can think of myriad lights a-blazing unnecessarily around me at night, outside homes, farms, and big commercial establishments along Hwy 14 and dominating/polluting the night skies in Spring Green and Plain. The many studies conducted on crime and lighting do not demonstrate any security advantage to over-lighting commercial strips, businesses and homes-- indeed, just the opposite. Big savings in energy consumption there, if we would ratchet up a level to conserve more than changing out our lightbulbs.
-Katie W. Green | Spring Green, WI | November 2, 2012
