Trying to solve environmental concerns raised more questions than answers at Tuesday’s Speak Up, Speak Out forum.

There are many perspectives on how to implement green technology in the midst of a recession, said Director of Environmental Studies and panelist Thomas Rohrer.

“This is the time that we have the opportunity to re-invent our energy,” Rohrer said.

The leader in the 21st century will be the green energy leader, he said.

Fellow panelist and assistant political science professor Thomas Stewart said a healthy economy is dependent on a healthy environment.

“History is just replete with examples of the environment crashing and the economy crashing around it,” he said.

One of the largest employers in Michigan, and one of the few still hiring, is the Hemlock Semiconductor plant, Stewart said. Part of the plant works to manufacture solar power generating applications, and Stewart cited it as an example of what green energy can do for the economy.

Saline sophomore and panelist David Fraser said that wind and solar plant employment is greater than coal plant employment.
“Looking to be more sustainable can actually improve the economy,” he said.

Panelist and Grand Rapids senior Jack Buck said he was concerned with this approach and how it paralleled earlier economic approaches. He was concerned this was placing all of the investments in one area and, like when all of Michigan’s economy was in car production, there was potential for failure.

“Whose to say five to 10 years from now they won’t send those jobs overseas like they did with every other job in America?” he said.
In addition to the job concerns, some people are concerned about green energy living up to its claims.

One example is green cars, which still require energy to manufacture and leave toxic batteries to dispose of, said panelist and Battle Creek junior Travis Faber. He asked his fellow students to realize the immediate limitations of green energy.

“Without coal and oil and stuff right now, you cannot convert over our energy,” he said.

E-mail the author: Maryellen Tighe