Energy Idiocy Seen on the Streets of Denver

This post is from Sierra Club Deputy Press Secretary Josh Dorner, who is also in Denver for the Democratic National Convention.

As has been reported by ThinkProgress and others, ExxonMobil has paid for a significant portion of the convention's media coverage and the energy industry (and most others) are lavishing sponsorships on events, parties, and receptions from dusk 'til dawn. But the entrenched dirty energy interests seem particularly intent on using the convention to push their issues.

Upon arriving at the swirling maelstrom that was Denver International Airport, I was immediately greeted by ads from the American Coalition Clean Coal Electricity (nee Americans for Balanced Energy Choices), the coal industry front group. (Their ads were even more prominent at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport where I had flown in from and where thousands of Republicans will pass through during their own convention next week.) A stroll down and around the 16th Street Mall, Denver's main drag, revealed even more energy idiocy.  For those less ambulatory (or less willing to walk around in wool on a 90-degree day), clean coal even brings the message to you (click here to see the full photo):

And, everyone's favorite slogan from the Newt Gingrich crew (click here if you can't see the full photo):

Comments

[Ruth Douglas Miller]

The message has to switch from "poor me, gas costs too much" to "poor Earth, we have to stop Global Warming"! I worry this is too much to ask of selfish US people. It ought to help to keep chanting, "Gas prices won't ever go back down, no matter what. We need to STOP USING THE STUFF!"

[scsurfer]

Innovators and new methods have always been slowed by entrenched interests because of this exact thing: Money is seldom in the hands of those who would bring needed new ways at every level. It is nowhere more visible than in situations like this one.
Health insurance companies, Oil companies, the list is long. All fighting for the status quo even when it is obviously not in the best interest and even survival of the country.
This is one of the main reasons why countries that have been world leaders become second rate powers.
Fear of change.

[brenda hixenbaugh]

Yes, it is time for the people to stand up and fight for themselves, their loved ones, and their planet. To just say NO to the money grubbers that care nothing about anything but the bottom line - Their bank accounts and how much power they have. PEOPLE OF THE WORLD - TAKE BACK YOUR FREEDOM AND JUST SAY " NO!" Oil and the drilling of it has been proven time and time again to be damaging to people, the plants, the animals, the rivers and streams. So folks do something for yourself, your families, your planet. JUST SAY NO to the oil and HELLO to a better life.

[Wolfgang Tiedtke]

It has become absurd. The Sierra Club embarks on a Clean Energy campaign and the coal lobby fights for Clean Coal. Now it appears we are fighting clean energy. A ridiculous position. We should abandon the term Clean Energy and call the campaign more accurately "Renewable or Sustainable Energy". There really is no clean energy in that sense. And least of all clean coal.

[JIM TAYLOR]

Save energy turn off all office high rise lights at night go back to when there was a shortage of gas. Then all nonessential lights were turned off.

Save our air do not stop at toll boths. It creates air pollution and causes extra gas to be used. It's more practical to pay additional taxes than to pay tolls.

Americans and specifically the sierra club should be urging marches and specific civil actions to show our strenghts.

jim taylor

[Carrie Gardner]

Forget dependence on foreign oil, let's start reducing our dependence on any oil. I completely agree that we are living too much in the moment of high gas prices and not looking to the future for sustainable energy options. What steps do we need to take to get there? How can we convice people that they need to make changes before it's too late?

[Charles Moore]

Oil is a massive part of America and no amount of "chanting" or ranting can change this.

There is no alternative source to replace it in the near future. increased efficiency will also help but it to is drop in the ocean.

Wind power would 20% in the Pickens Plan. Where will the other 80% come from?