The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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February 3, 2008

Your view — Leaders need to prepare for energy, climate uncertainty

Ted Downey

MANKATO — In January, I attended “Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty” presentations in the Twin Cities by Daniel Lerch, author of “Post Carbon Cities,” and John Kaufmann of Oregon’s Department of Energy, representative to Portland Peak Oil Task Force.

Rep. Bill Hilty, chairman of the Energy Committee, is to be commended for attending the United States’ Association for the Study of Peak Oil and getting these experts to present to a Minnesota legislative hearing and meetings in four other cities.

Another ASPO presenter, Matthew R. Simmons, founder and chairman of the world’s largest energy investment banking company Simmons and Company International, will speak to the Energy Committee at 1 p.m. Monday at the State Capitol.

We should inform ourselves and make known to political leaders and economic leaders our personal findings about the importance of being prepared for energy and climate uncertainty.

Search for information about any of the above organizations to become more informed as to why we need to address this issue as soon as possible.

In his farewell speech in 1961, President Eisenhower said, “As we peer into society’s future, we — you and I and our government — must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage.”

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