Waste not, want not --Dr. Noll

Dr. Michael Noll advocated conservation and efficiency in the long-running Greening of America email discussion, responding to two messages by Valdosta City Council member James R. Wright. Dr. Noll cites our earliest American blogger. -jsq

Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:55:16 -0400

Dear Councilman Wright.

Valid points and a great question to ponder. You may recall my quote from Benjamin Franklin: "Waste not, want not".

Add to that a quote from the Sierra Club: "Energy use should be minimized through conservation and efficiency. In the near future, efficiency is the only "energy source" which does not incur some environmental damage and which is available immediately in generous supply. Sophisticated building construction, efficient appliances, recycling, modernized industrial processes, programmable thermostats, public transit supplemented by fuel-efficient cars, and many other innovative technologies can reduce energy use tremendously, while saving money."

In other words, we are wasting enormous amounts of energy and money

every single day. We feel it when we fill up our gas-guzzlers, when we pay electricity and natural gas bills to heat or cool poorly insulated houses, and when we see the environmental consequences. At the same time, our dependence on "more energy" (as in more "want") pulls us into geopolitical conflict hearths in the Middle East and makes us look for "quick fixes" at home (such as biomass), regardless of the consequences. We are ... if I may use the example ... behaving like drug addicts, "hooked" firmly to a materialistic and wasteful way of life that is not sustainable.

To my knowledge there are more jobs in, say, the retrofitting of buildings & industries, improvement of infrastructure (e.g. smart grids), expansion of public transit (where applicable), solar, and reforestation than in biomass in our region. (John Quarterman has done an excellent job of looking into many of these issues. You might want to explore his blog. )

Next Tuesday is a first good opportunity to meet with folks who are bringing truly "green" jobs and energy to Georgia and beyond:

http://lake.typepad.com/on-the-lake-front/2011/03/mage-solar-at-lowndes-high-29-march-2011.html

Valdosta is a wonderful community, with many talents and potentials. Once we move beyond the idea to invest in a boondoggle like biomass, and instead invest in other initiatives, you will find that community members are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Regards, Michael G. Noll.

That was in response to the message from James Wright quoted in the first paragraph of this previous post. Councilmember Wright then sent the message with the rest of the paragraphs quoted in that message, and Dr. Noll responded:

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:39:15 -0400

Good evening Mr. Wright.

I understand, but let's keep two things in perspective:

1. If we are to believe Mr. Lofton's numbers, the jobs created with this biomass project (for which there are alternatives as outlined) resemble less than 2% of the jobs he claims to have created during his tenure with the Industrial Authority.
2. I don't think anyone who considers himself a true Christian or believes in the principles of commons sense and ethics would want to trade a job for another person's health.

You are falling into the same trap I described earlier: some "business people" see the desperation in the community when it comes to jobs and take advantage of it, no matter what, because THEY will not have to breathe in the air, or pay the bills for doctor visits resulting from the air pollution.

It should be your highest priority as a city council member to look beyond the illusions created by those who lack the vision and responsibility necessary to create healthy jobs for our community. Statements made by medical associations and thousands of doctors throughout the country about the risks of biomass are not a matter of opinion, they are a fact.

In the end, the last word belongs neither to you nor me. That last word belongs to someone else.

Respectfully, Michael G. Noll.

P.S.: Please do not make any assumptions of my knowledge or experience with poverty just because I happen to be teaching at a university. I am the first in my family to do so.