In his Sept. 23 commentary on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling, Mr. Rick Whitbeck was strident and persistent in labeling as extremist and radical those who hold opposing views. His rant illustrates that there are extremists on both sides of the question. Those who have studied the earth and the changes occurring due to increasing atmospheric CO2 are extremely anxious about the future ability of the overheated planet to support human life. In calling for continued and increased drilling and burning of fossil fuels, Mr. Whitbeck is displaying extreme ignorance, greed or both.
Unfortunately, we make no progress by attaching labels to our supporters or our opponents. Alaska has enormous potential for production of energy that does not add CO2 to the atmosphere — wind, tidal and solar, for example. A modest investment in development of those sources could eliminate the need to pursue unsustainable energy development that also destroys, forever, the character of the locations where the development occurs. Alaska after oil is a worthy and attainable goal, and would be best achieved before all of the special places are ruined.
— Tom Miller
Anchorage
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