Energy Supplies and Robert Redford's "Racism"

Robert Redford's decision to attack President Bush's plan to open over a hundred thousand acres of the West to energy development drew fire recently from East Coast based black advocacy groups.

Redford described the sale of leases as "morally criminal." CORE spokesman Niger Innis shot back by arguing that increasing supply brings down prices. Innis asked that Redford relinquish his wealth and try "living like a poor person." He went on to say that high prices were functionally discriminatory and praised efforts to increase supply and reduce the burden.

This is another example of traditionally left wing groups battling over energy policy. Some left wing groups emphasize the condition of people, others want to de-emphasize the importance of people. Black advocacy groups worry about the poor heating their homes. Environmentalists have warm homes and ask what about the caribou who might have to pass by an oil well once a year.

Closer to home the debate over windmills pits clean energy advocates against those that value the preservation of every mountain view. One suggestion argued that individual homeowners ought to be encouraged to purchase their own windmills instead of allowing large windfarms.

Environmentally speaking the impact made by massive numbers of small windmills versus moderate numbers of large ones would be significant. It takes more energy to produce and transport smaller windmills. Those that fear the occasional bird death have much more to be concerned about when it comes to a vast multitude of windmills with smaller, harder to see blades.

More importantly, wind farms mean more property tax receipts. Wind farms mean better funded schools with less reliance on fundraising. Wind farms mean that the rest of us do not have to carry as high a burden to keep schools and local government running. Wind farms mean that more money comes from outside of the state directly into the pockets of locals who will turn around and buy more stuff, eat in local restaraunts more often, and deposit more money into local banks. We are historically used to an outflow of cash. An influx would be nice to see for a change.