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Publisher's Comment: A ripple effect
The kids are ready to adjust to clean energy—are the adults as bold?

by Sam Chapman

I had the pleasure last week of speaking at Green Career Day at San Marin High School in Novato. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to high school students about their futures and to have a discussion that connected career choices with green technology, green living and protecting the health of the planet.

Al Gore won a Nobel Prize for alerting people to the crisis our planet faces. Unfortunately, it seems that it is in the nature of most humans to (1) deny that such a crisis could be real; or (2) accept that it's real but assume there will be a fix—perhaps through new technology; or (3) be impressed in the moment when the problem is described, but go on with our lives without changing in any significant way.

In my experience, more young people seem to "get" the climate crisis than older people. They're going to have to live with it a lot longer than we are, and they're not as wedded to doing things in a certain way because that's the way we've done things in the past. They are less afraid to shake things up.

There were many perceptive questions from students in the class I visited and a spirited discussion. One of the topics we discussed was the efforts of local leaders, including Supervisor Charles McGlashan, through Marin Clean Energy, to put Marin on a path to purchasing energy from renewable sources instead of predominantly from fossil fuels. What follows is the essence of an e-mail I received later the same day from one of the bright, articulate students in the San Marin class:

"Your discussion opened my eyes to how I can honestly make a difference in ways other than simply using fewer resources.

"I'm writing to hopefully send a message out there that the next generation is ready and eager to help Marin go green. The topic of possible green energy grabbed my attention. After hearing more information and reading more about it, I really believe this program must be launched. Those opposing or hesitant about the huge change are given the option of opting out and staying with PG&E. So why can't those in Marin who support green energy be given it?

"Some may argue that the effect could go wrong and leave us with a price increase on our electricity bills. The way I see it, our prices are high and will only get higher as more and more resources are being consumed. So if the prices are going to increase anyway, why not do it in a cleaner way that will be beneficial in the long run?

"I'm tired of hearing about the changes needing to be done, and not seeing any made. Someone needs to step up to the plate and set an example. Marin County is being handed an opportunity that will help launch a local and, hopefully, statewide effort to address the environmental crisis at hand. Let's be the first drop of green success and watch the ripples follow.—Elizabeth R. Casey, San Marin High senior

Go Elizabeth! I love the way she cuts through so much to focus on the basic issue. In her young life she's already tired of hearing about needed changes and not seeing results. Some, including the local daily newspaper, have opined that this issue should be put on the ballot. Putting it on the ballot will skew the debate in a major way, by allowing powerful opposing forces to spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to defeat it, overwhelming local green proponents. We elect local leaders to lead. Let's not only give them permission but encourage them to lead. As Elizabeth says, those who want to opt out can do so.

The Sun has written about this issue, and we will no doubt continue to cover it with much more information and debate to come. Maybe some new and compelling problem will be revealed. However, here's the way it looks to me currently. We have few enough real opportunities to create significant change and lead in efforts to preserve our planet. Because of diligent local efforts, Marin Clean Energy is one way we can make a difference. As Elizabeth says: "Let's be the first drop of green success and watch the ripples follow."

• • • •

Two days later I attended Marin Conservation League's annual dinner and heard Mathis Wackernagel speak. He's co-creator of the "Ecological Footprint" and executive director of Global Footprint Network, which promotes this tool for increasing sustainability. Check out their interesting work at www.footprintnetwork.org . For more on Marin Clean Energy, see www.marincleanenergy.info . In keeping with the sustainability theme, MCL honored the Sustainability Team of Marin County Development Agency, Marin Farmers Market, Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, longtime Marin environmental leader Jana Haehl, pioneering environmental attorney Clem Shute and another energetic young environmental leader, Tam High sophomore Max Perry.