Guest columnist James W. Armaline, a resident of Lakewood, is a retired engineer and regional planner.

The Sun, in its July 20 edition, published a commentary with a headline that read "Retiring coal plants before end of their useful life doesn't make sense." The piece was penned by Isaac Orr, Research Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy, and Fred Palmer, Senior Fellow for Energy Policy at the Heartland Institute, a Libertarian think tank.

It is the contention of these two fine fellows that it makes neither economic nor environmental sense to implement such a strategy. These decisions, by the way, are going to be made by energy corporations based on profitability within a regulatory environment that is now controlled by the Trump administration making their economic argument moot.

With respect to the environment, the writers state that greenhouse gasses are far less present in the atmosphere than the models are indicating. True, but the reason for this is that these greenhouse gasses are being sequestered in the oceans. This phenomenon is reducing the rate of atmospheric warming while increasing the rate of ocean warming. The result of this condition is the bleaching of the coral reefs that support all ocean life and ultimately all life on the planet. Ironic, isn't it? What gives life also takes life away.

The sixth great extinction has already begun. The earth is losing species at a rate comparable with the age of the dinosaurs. Human-induced climate change and global warming are scientific fact. There is no debate in the scientific community. The most vulnerable populations to natural disasters of greater frequency and intensity are already feeling the effects of our unchecked excesses.

In the face of this, the deniers like the Heartland Institute, continue to spread misinformation by any means to anyone including school science teachers and their students. They have published a book designed to discredit legitimate climate scientists that is being widely distributed. Their ideology is one that would not only eliminate government regulation but government itself theoretically leaving all decisions to an unfettered marketplace.

A cursory reading of American history reveals that we've tried this before and it didn't go so well.

This ideology has surfaced across the country among many diverse groups. It is deep-rooted in a disaffection with and alienation from all public institutions. Many individuals have exploited this mood and institutions, including the sitting president, to serve personal needs without regard for the health and prosperity of the many.

The future of the earth and all its creatures hangs in the balance. We must reject this ideology of greed, excess and ignorance and adopt a different way of living before it is too late to reverse what we have set in motion.

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