Using the non-existent claim carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels causes catastrophic global warming, the environmental movement claims the right to control all activities in our lives. A new attempt following these remarks is a proposed ban on fossil-fueled swimming pool heaters. Georgia is one of the states targeted for the pool heater ban.
In Atlanta, Georgia, I have a natural gas-fueled pool heater for a 12,000-gallon pool that is kept at 88 degrees. The pool is used from April 15 until the end of October for one-hour daily exercises to relieves the aches and pains of old age. Taking the heated pool away will drastically reduce my quality of life.
As an engineer I considered solar swimming pool heaters and saw them impractical to achieve pool temperatures desired. A pool is a 100 percent efficient pool heater when the sun shines on its surface. I live in a heavily wooded section of Atlanta and the sun shines on the pool a couple hours per day. The same applies for solar swimming pool heaters. Would environmentalists want trees cut down to allow solar pool heaters?
If we go back in time four score years, public apathy allowed the Third Reich arise from a minor political party to governing Germany by 1933. At the end of the war, anti-Nazi survivor Pastor Martin Niemoller was asked how those past events could happen. He is reported to have responded with a verse that describe the rewards of complacency.
First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
In our present times, Pastor Niemoller might have said the following about energy regulation rules:
First they closed the coal mines, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a miner.
Then they stopped oil and gas drilling, and I didn’t speak out because I didn’t work in oil fields.
Then they shut down nuclear power plants, and I didn’t speak out because I didn’t work in nuclear power.
Then they shut off all my lights and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Apparently these remarks can be amended to include: “Then they came after our heated swimming pools.” Allowing this type of tyranny to persist due to apathy will only lead to personal loss of all controls of energy sources.
Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (ret.), Climate Change and Energy
