Many pitfalls to alternatives

Aside from the point that many astrophysicists and geologists like myself believe that the principal causes of global climate change are related to solar and cosmic forces, Gov. Jay Inslee’s new tax proposal on fossil fuels makes little sense because the so-called clean sources in this state are really quite limited.

Hydropower is wonderful, but no expansion of this source will be allowed. Nuclear technology has greatly improved but, again, nuclear plants are a non-starter. Solar power might provide significant carbon-free energy, but Washington is sun-challenged. And biodiesel is largely a fraud.

So the principal alternative source would be wind, which has many pitfalls. Foremost is the fact that with present technology it is not capable of producing reliable base load power. Secondly, wind turbines are already subsidized by U.S. taxpayers to the absurd point that the subsidies are worth the same as the power produced. Subsidies for wind power are roughly $56 per megawatt-hour/year versus 64 cents for natural gas.

And then there are the birds. Currently, wind power kills roughly 573,000 a year, including protected species. One dead bird found around an oil facility brings anguished cries but, for wind turbines, the government lays off.

Morris Kaufman

Spokane Valley