CNN Drops The “E-word”

Windmills. PV-collectors. Geothermal. Imagine my surprise when at the end of a CNN segment, alternative energy symbols flashed by the screen to introduce a recurring “Energy Issues” special. Who knew? I sat up straight with baited breath and took in a segment on waste-to-energy.

The technology, which is rather self-explanatory, was praised as hitting two birds with one stone: waste-to-energy technology could lessen the amount trash piling up on landfills as well as provide a cleaner-than-coal* fuel input. And then, the segment comes to a close as the reporter, named Poppy (believe it), states, “…however, environmentalists say that…”

What now? What do these winy, narrow-minded environmentalists want this time? Why are these environmentalist types constantly opposing technological innovations with economic potential? Why can’t they just let lying dogs lay?

These pesky folks were quoted as being concerned with mercury emissions from waste-to-energy technology. As you can probably divine by now, my beef is the implication that environmentalists are single-minded neo-Luddites. Instead, what if Poppy had used the term “experts” or “industry experts”? Would the implications have changed?

We have known for some time that the “E-word” – Environmentalist – is a dirty word, but it can often be hard to peg down why. Now I for one have a better idea of why that might be. Thanks CNN.

So, what should CNN have done differently? Framed it differently? Used the word “experts”? Or, do we need a new term to break with the past? Do we need to invent a new term that is associated with people who are informed human beings who know what mercury can do to the human body, people who want a strong economy with equitable jobs, and people who push for cutting-edge, technological innovations anytime, anyplace? You tell me.

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*This depends on what we mean by “clean” of course. WTE technology should result in lower sulfur, methane, and CO2 emissions for example, but as always, further scrutiny is advised.

P.S. I recently came across a well-written, accessible Electric Car Guide. Check it out.