Stop serving Big Oil, the enemies of the earth: Go electric whenever you can

Fifteen years ago, one of the first opinions I wrote for my now defunct green website stated that Big Oil and the Fossil Fuel Industry are enemies of the Earth.

That has not changed and is now truer than ever. They have turned out to be enemies of the health and well-being of the human species as well.

Nothing speaks to the continued human reliance on fossil fuels more than Donald Trump’s war of choice upon Iran. Oil and fuel prices are roiling the world economy as they continue to rise. Had Big Oil been responsible citizens, the current crisis would be much, much smaller today while the droughts, floods, fires and related severe weather events caused by their money-driven climate change would also be hugely mitigated.

Big Oil’s own research told them clearly over 50 years ago that their product was damaging to the environment and to human health.

How did they react? They carried out a decades-long misinformation campaign to confuse the public and prevent a shift to cleaner fuels. They could have used their enormous oil profits to transition into wind and solar power, but made a conscious decision to gaslight humanity instead. Once again, greed and profit rule, despite the cost to their own progeny.

Surprise … South Dakota ranks second nationally in wind power production. Over 50% of all generated electricity comes from the wind. SD actually sells power to neighboring states. It’s a surprise because Big Oil continues doing its best to suppress such news.

In fact, in recent news out of Utah, Big Oil is working hard (and successfully) to shield itself from lawsuits calling it out for what it is. Our neighbor, Iowa, is among those states on the verge of shielding Big Oil. We must watch out for a similar push here.

Remember Summit Carbon Solutions and the bogus attempt to force Eminent Domain for a carbon pipeline? That company has finally dropped its façade of being environmentally friendly and is now fully into “drill, baby, drill” mode.

So I entreat you, my fellow citizen: Cease being a stooge for Big Oil. The next time you need a lawnmower or weedwhacker, think electric. Make your next furnace a heat pump. Your next vehicle purchase should be an EV. Install just a few solar panels with a whole-home battery backup.

Your life will improve. As will our planet.

Van Carter of Sioux Falls is a retired broadcast journalist and environmentalist who published a green website for 15 years.

Photo: oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, public domain, wikimedia commons

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