To the editor:

On Oct. 5, as I left for vacation, I read with interest an opinion piece lambasting the proposed solar energy project in Johnson and Douglas counties. The author was co-chair of Citizens for Responsible Solar Energy-Douglas County. I might have guessed something about the organization when I saw the word usage and the extreme position taken: “This is … a cynical project planned by a tax credit-fueled energy giant for profit alone, with little care about the human costs.”  Hah! It’s those anti-capitalist Democrats at it again. But no! Their national website says they work with Republican legislators to deal with climate issues by “responsible” means. The organization clearly promotes maintaining our current approach to energy but making it “cleaner” and “more efficient.” Those, of course, are code words used by Big Coal and Big Oil to indicate just enough change to keep environmentalists off their backs.

Business as usual will not stop the progression of global warming. I have solar panels on my garage, and they have cut my electricity bill dramatically; but rooftop solar on houses won’t be enough.  We need large-scale renewable energy as well as changes in building construction, transportation, energy production and transmission, etc. There will be major changes in our lives, either by our choice or forced on us by climate change. Tell the Planning Commission and county commissioners that we want a better world for our children and grandchildren.  We want to promote truly clean energy. 

Joe Douglas,

Lawrence