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Feb. 12, 2010 | The Clarion Opinion Electricity, continued from p. 4 The only reason nuclear and coal survive as power generators is through heavy government subsidies that serve to mask the true cost of our energy use. If we took away the subsidies, both nuclear and coal electrical generation would disappear within months or years. Similarly, if we subsidized wind and other renewable eneigy at the same level as coal and nuclear, they would out-compete both coal and nuclear and drive them from the marketplace. Dropping all subsidies as soon as possible should be our goal. The market will sort out which techniques are tmly economical. Guardians of the energy status quo also cry out to do away with government regulation and champion a free-market economy. Then they claim that converting to renewable energy will bankrupt our grandchildren’s future because we will need to pay too much to convert to renewables. If we completely did away with subsidies and let market forces take over, my bet is that nuclear power and all forms of fossil fuels would become, well, fossils, in a very short time. Instead, these noble guardians cling to the present and offer a decimated, poisoned landscape, ocean, and atmosphere as their vision of the future. Such logic reeks of short-sighted, self-serving profit and corruption. Who, in their right mind, would prefer a poisoned planet over a clean one? Wall Street, for all of its ills, sees the writing on the wall. Nuclear power plants can only be constructed with government- backed loans because banks and investors know a poor risk when they see one. A similar, wholesale flight from fossil fuel-generated electricity is accelerating rapidly. Last year, the Environmental Defense Fund successfully argued down the construction of 100 coal-fired power plants by a Texas utility. The result: Texas has seen a surge in the growth of renewable energy, particularly wind power, and recently passed Iowa and California as the leading renewable- energy producing state. Following conservative principles into a green future is not an oxymoronic statement. All that is needed is to put conservation back into conservatism. Remember, Texas is the home state of our last president. He wiU never be remembered as a friend of clean, renewable energy but that’s what happened in Texas anyhow. BUY, SELL, RENTat cheapbooks. com Textbooks buybacks, multiple online buyers gets you the most cash for your books, even on longer used editions. (260)399-6111 espanol - (212)380-1763 CH2APP00KS* This week in Campus Life Hearts for Haiti Valentine Dance 10pm-lam in Myers Reserve Dinning Room 25 cents to get in the door 50 cents to enter the cutest couple contest Senior Seminar Series Movie Thursday Feb 18 @ 7:30pm Dunham Auditorium Free Snacks: pop com, and movie theater candy Playing: “Office Space” Thinking about your future? Come find out about what you need to know before, during, and after you’re a senior. The Clarion Senior Staff Editor in Chief: Travis Wirebacit I'lanaging Editor: John Climer News Editor: Business Editor: Opinion Editor: Arts & Life Editor: Sports Editor: Open Open Travis Taylor Will Byers Open Copy Editor: Layout & Design: Photo Editor: Business I'lanager: Faculty Advisor: Open Travis Wireback Marc Newton Emily Clark John B. Padgett Other Staff Karam Boeshaar Dabney Farmer David Alexander Megan Street Dimitri McCloghry Michael Eleazer Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of the staff of The Clarion. Other opinions expressed on this page are those of respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff or administration of Brevard College. E] Letters Policy The Clarion welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. All letters intended for publication must be signed. All correspondence should be mailed to: The Clarion, Brevard College, One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC 28712
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Feb. 12, 2010, edition 1
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