Kontos Column: Carbon neutrality…Choosing truth over facts
By Dan Kontos
Oh my. Sometimes we just need to take a breath and look at what we are doing. We all do it, even me. We do things that make no sense, and if just someone had said something we could have avoided the embarrassment. Well, I just witnessed that, once again.
You may have caught the Metro Wire article that talked about the Stevens Point Public Policy and General Government Committee considering a resolution committing to carbon neutrality within the next 15 years. Specifically, “100% Clean Energy and Carbon Neutrality by 2040,” with possible consideration by the Common Council on June 10.
As like many of you, honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to the piece. Climate virtue signaling just isn’t my favorite topic, and Stevens Point has been known to do some things that make my eyes roll reflexively.
However, work has been slow, it’s raining outside, and curiosity got the better of me. I went online and checked out the recorded meeting. Man, I’m glad I did.
Fast forwarding to about 37 minutes into the meeting, roughly the next hour was dedicated to discussing a resolution committing the city, “…to achieving 100 percent clean energy and carbon neutrality by 2040 for city operations…” My friends in the city, because I love you, I have to point out that you are looking rather silly. Believe me, I know what it looks like; I’ve done it plenty myself.
No, this piece isn’t what you think it is. I’m not here to persuade anyone about the global warming hoax, the climate industrial complex, or the perpetual end-of-the-world clock that will see entire cities swallowed up by the oceans, the globe bursting into flames, and cute polar bears unable to grab a Coke and dying off in only a handful of years.
I get it. Sadly, for some of you, it’s your religion, and I’m not going to change your mind. So, I’m not going to try today. Instead, let’s look at how you are going about your business of running the city.
We start with a resolution, not drafted by the city, but by an outside group, “Wisconsin Conservation Voters” who paid an individual to draft this for them. Wouldn’t it be nice if city staff had a hand in this? How long has it just been acceptable to outsource public policy to special interest groups?
In the meeting, at about the 39-minute mark, Mayor Mike Wiza detailed, what I believe to be a pretty impressive list of accomplishments by the city to reduce costs and pollution. Hey, who doesn’t like that? Carbon capture procedures, solar arrays, biofuel systems, community composting, and more.
The mayor pointed out that the resolution would commit the city to 100 percent clean energy and carbon neutrality which are terms that are undefined. What does that even mean? Surely, someone can tell us.
Wiza correctly spotlights that electric vehicles must be charged using the power grid, which is generated mostly through coal and natural gas. He also referred to carbon neutrality as a “shell game,” trading emissions with carbon offsets. I call it a scam, but again, that’s just me. The mayor also keenly pointed out that even routine concrete paving operations produce carbon releases.
Several senior staff members also recounted the past and current efforts of the City, and the difficulties (dare I say impossibility) in reaching these goals, including new diesel vehicles just purchased that will be in service for decades, well beyond 2040.
For a large portion of the meeting, members of the public spoke to the Committee, all with their own version of a lofty vision for Stevens Point. They were sincere and spoke from the heart, but honestly brought no facts. One speaker simply explained that he was there only with emotion, while another person was almost brought to tears while she spoke. They spoke about their truth, not the truth.
This is what they were dealing with. It was reality versus passion, or as Joe Biden would say, “We choose truth over facts.” This is what gets us in trouble.
Members of the Committee then spoke, each mentioning how they realized that they were facing a difficult task (dare I say unachievable), that they couldn’t even define the goals and terms used in the resolution, but the aspirations were more important than the actualities. At least we are doing something.
It reminded me of the County’s wasted effort to pass a feel-good resolution about diversity, inclusion, and equity back in 2021. Emotional psudo-activists ran the agenda, while rational mild people quietly sat by.
With all the challenges that will be facing the city in the future, the Committee unanimously voted to approve the resolution, and recommend making it the official policy of Stevens Point to further hamper their ability to move forward, striving to reach an undefined and ambiguous goal, that they all admit they can never achieve. Well, that’s my take, anyway.
Is this how government is supposed to work? My brothers and sisters, I tell you this out of love and respect, you have missed the mark. You should be listening to the mayor and his staff on this one. Governing is hard, but it’s your responsibility to get it right.
So, with that, let’s meet in the opinion section to talk about all of it, boldly, honestly, with an appreciation for all our public servants, and with a healthy respect for each other. Until then, remember that God loves you, and so do I.