Why do environmentalists claim to support 'clean energy', then wind up opposing it for dubious reasons?

Question

For example, wind power. Many 'greens' oppose it because birds occasionally fly into the propeller blades of the windmills and are killed. Here in Nevada we a have a solar generating facility that uses the sun's heat, with reflectors, to heat a sodium solution that is then used to generate steam to drive steam turbines and generate power. The greens oppose these plants because they use water, and take up a lot of space (it takes long, long rows of reflectors tracking the sun) in 'wild areas' of the environment. Greens oppose geothermal power because of the possibility of hydrogen sulfide pollution. They want land to stay 'undeveloped'. And of course, it goes without saying that they are opposed to coal, natural gas, and nuclear generated power. So what is left? Hydroelectric? How many dams can you build? Oops, can't build more dams. Might damage the environment.

Answer 1

The Left and the environmentalist don't want us to use any energy. If it was left up to Gore many of us working class wood be walking. Cant do any thing that might create CO2,as that is that bad green house gas. They never give any credit to the plants which were put here to do just that. Stop trying to appease them because they will never like what we do any way. If the Left get in control they will be many problems and they will increase your Taxes to fix it. That includes paying all those Illegals.

Answer 2

Odd isn't it?  They oppose all these things but offer NOTHING as an alternative energy source to replace what we are using now.

I've always had the feeling that there the extreme radical elements of this ilk would be happy with all of humanity wandering around naked and eating berries from wild bushes.

Answer 3

Besides the fact that this is a complete and total GENERALIZATION and you are only encompassing a small part of environmentalists. I aspire to be an environmental scientist one day and I'm not apposed to any type of "clean energy" as you put it. You are stating everything as if its a fact and everyone believes it when thats no where even close. And also the person who just said that PLANTS are creating CO2 and are part of the problem, get your facts straight! Plants USE CO2 in order to go through photosynthesis and create O2 as a by product of that process so they are helping the issue, not hurting it!

Also stop the Al Gore bashing. At least he is TRYING to do something about the cause regardless of his own Carbon footprint he is bringing the message of Global Warming out to people of all ages around the world and I admire him for that. It is an important issue that you just CANT ignore and he would not ignore it like Bush is now and McCain will if he comes to office. At least Gore cared enough to try and help educate people about Global Warming.

Stop taking for granted the Earth and do something to help take care of the Earth today!

Answer 4

They want to keep you ignorant and freezing in the dark. Makes it easier for the green fascists to take power and control your life.

The entire 'green' platform is a cluster of contradictions.

Answer 5

wow, such generalization.

Yes, SOME environmentalists oppose certain kinds of energy production. But it is not as you are claiming that they all suggest one way and then denounce it the next day.

I'll take one of your examples, wind power. Its excellent, and yes the original style can kill birds, but there are new designs being made which prevent this. Now everyone is happy.

The term "environmentalist" is as broad a spectrum as the term "Christian". Not everyone from a similar way of thinking is going to agree on the same things. All those different viewpoints turn out new ideas every day, and who knows when one of them turns out to be an idea that helps create a better tomorrow.

Its the narrow-mindedness you've just displayed that keeps us from moving forward.

Answer 6

Environmentalist are protesting energy, so naturally the source of all energy is the target of their protests.

It makes no difference if the source in solar, hydro, nuclear, gas, or coal, they all must be stopped by the environmentalists, even if the source of energy gives up no green house gases.

They won't be happy until we're back living in caves.

Answer 7

did you know that Peta operates as a kill shelter...?  If they don't find a home the animal is put down... they take in to many animals to do anything else.

Answer 8

Birds fly into residential windows all the time. Does that mean we should ban all houses with windows?

The lack of common sense among the Green Shirts is incredible.

Answer 9

Well really what they want is a more unobtrusive power production.  This is not really all that possible as you have said that windmills hit birds etc.  So a small cure is smaller units that everyone can have at home along with a small solar system with a battery storage system so you have power at nite.  The smaller windmills have a higher pitch sound from the blades which seems to warn birds of their presence and I've seen very few incidences of birds actually flying into the blade arcs of these even at night.  So combo of both windmill (in areas where it'll work) and solar for each house means free power for household and during the day a lot of small input into the power grid (you sell electricity back to the power company).  Around here they want you to run your power output all into the grid and then use power from the grid and they credit your account for what you produce and only pay the difference of what you use and what you produce.  The assumption is that you're going to use more than you produce.  I know one person who uses nothing from the grid and has a geothermal house heating system, solar electricity production and storage and also a small windmill generator.  The combined systems produce enough power he uses nothing from the grid and uses nothing to heat his house (1800sf).  Only energy outside of this is in the coldest part of winter he does fire up the wood stove for more heat but uses a small fan system to circulate the air.

No matter what system we come up with the environmentalists will find something bad about them and complain.  There of course must be a compromise to the problems where we can be both environmentally responsible and produce energy for our needs with renewable sources.

Answer 10

In the eyes of Some of the Environments, not all, the major threat to Earth is Mankind..I can't really get behind a idea to stop mankind. And then you have, what I like to refer to as Holy-er than Thou" crowd. The Fly around the world on their Chartered Jets(have they heard of Trains?)and make speeches, host fund raisers(sometimes they won't even accept a fee, just cover their travel, penthouse suite (or cabin supplied by a major Corporation) the room service, masseuse, caviar, ...You get the message. The Kennedy's who don,t want to see those ghastly windmills 5 miles off their coast.The Speaker of the House we know her name-To good to fly on a commerical airline with the "little people"(some of them smell bad)you know. And then theirs AlGore-Living in a Mansion the consumes more energy than 10 average homes and leaves a Carbon Footprint bigger than his Ego, this guy tells us we're wasting energy, and WE are able to affect the climate of an entire world more than anything else,,Like the SUN???OK Al, what ever you say..now take you pills, it's nappy time for our little crusader, you can rule the world in your dreams.

Answer 11

Greeny people are very unhappy, they don`t even know what they want except for people to disappear