And it feels so good (h/t Climate Depot):
Southwestern Ontario's flourishing wind energy industry came under fire Wednesday from the co-founder of Greenpeace.
Dr. Patrick Moore told more than 1,000 area farmers the industry destroys more jobs than it creates, and causes energy prices to climb for all users.
“The industry is a destroyer of wealth and negative to the economy,'' said Moore, speaking at the 19th annual Southwest Agricultural Conference at Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph.
Moore, who now refers to himself as the “sensible environmentalist,'' said the solar bubble has burst and thinks the wind bubble is about to burst. ...
Moore said there wouldn't be wind farms in southwestern Ontario if taxpayers weren't paying the bill.
“They are ridiculously expensive and don't work half the time,'' he said. “And no matter how many are built, they won’t replace coal, gas or hydro or nuclear plants, because they are continuous and wind is not always reliable.''
Dr. Moore went on the criticize the organization he founded, calling it "counterproductive" from an environmental standpoint, as they consistently fail to be motivated by science and oppose bio-technologies that save human lives. This is a man who clearly cares about the welfare of the planet, but is able to step back, look at the facts, and approach environmental problems with common sense instead of wishful thinking. This, however, was the beautiful cherry on top of his speech:
“We have to recognize that poverty is the worst environmental problem today,'' he said.
If I've made that point once, I've made it a thousand times. Free enterprise is the cause of prosperity and innovation; Big Government is not the solution for environmental quality; and economically wealthier societies are environmentally healthier societies. It's encouraging that even a former kicking-and-screaming environmentalist can see the light.