The Edmond Sun

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January 2, 2009

Locals advise Obama on environment

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — Global warming, alternative fuel, waste disposal — when it comes to the environment, president-elect Barack Obama faces some pretty daunting challenges.

During the campaign, Obama said he wants to create millions of new “green” jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions — thought to contribute to global warming — 80 percent by 2050.

He wants to reduce America’s “carbon footprint” by ensuring that 10 percent of U.S. electricity comes from renewable sources by 2025. He wants to increase energy efficiency, weatherize one million homes annually, develop and deploy clean coal technology and make construction of an Alaska natural gas pipeline a priority.

Obama also hopes to make the U.S. a leader on climate change.

Greenhouse effect

Most scientists now believe carbon dioxide and other air pollution are collecting in the atmosphere, acting like a thickening blanket that is trapping the sun’s heat, causing the planet to warm up.

The pro-environment Natural Resources Defense Council reports that global warming is causing damage in many parts of the United States through droughts and a greater number of wildfires.

Kim Anderson, a professor in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, said he would advise Obama to rethink his thoughts about global warming. Anderson said some evidence shows the earth has warmed while other evidence suggests we are entering a cold cycle.

“Is global warming manmade? I think it’s preposterous to think that man has that much impact on the environment,” said Anderson, doing some work in downtown Edmond at Java Dave’s. “What makes anybody think that man can change nature?”

At the same time, in some ways, on a smaller scale, man does influence nature, Anderson said.

Edmond resident Susan Kinney said Obama should surround himself with a well-rounded team of advisers, and the president-elect appears to be doing just that.

Steven Chu, a pro-alternative fuels Nobel Prize-winning physicist, is Obama’s nominee to lead the Energy Department. Harvard’s John Holdren will be his science adviser. And green jobs supporter Hilda Solis is his choice to lead the Labor Department.

Kinney said in addition to continuing his own education on the environment, Obama needs to do more to educate Americans.

“We need to be good stewards of our land, and he needs to educate people that they are responsible for what they do to the environment,” Kinney said.

Cheri Blackwood teaches chemistry and physics at Santa Fe High School. Some of Blackwood’s units include information on greenhouse emissions, the contents of greenhouse gases and acid rain.

Blackwood said she would talk to Obama about the need for alternative fuel sources. Using alternative sources would help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create “green” jobs, she said.

“My fear is with gas prices dropping the drive to pursue that is not as viable as it was when gas prices were $4 a gallon,” Blackwood said.

In June, motorist group AAA’s daily survey of gas prices topped $4 for the first time. At the time, crude oil was at $138 a barrel. Prices had risen 31 out of the previous 33 days, establishing records on 29 of those days.

On Friday, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas in Oklahoma was $1.49. The highest in-state price was $3.95, reached on July 16.

Kinney and Anderson agreed that the country needs to pursue alternative fuel sources. Kinney said many options exist. Anderson said the nation needs to be less dependent on foreign oil.

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