Analysis of Chuck Soderberg's Global Warming Position
In January of 2008, State Rep. Chuck Soderberg and four other republican representatives handed out copies of the global-warming denialist book Unstoppable Global Warming -Every 1500 Years, by S. Fred Singer and Dennis T. Avery and signed onto a letter warning against passing green legislation. Below is the text of the letter and the my analysis of it. You can download the letter in .pdf format here.
The Letter
January 17,2008
Dear House and Senate Colleagues:
It is our privilege to provide to you, with our highest recommendation, a complimentary copy of Unstoppable Global Warming -Every 1500 Years, by S. Fred Singer and Dennis T. Avery. Contributions from individuals and foundations (not corporations) made it possible for the Heartland Institute to provide copies of the book to distribute to you. It is very revealing with regard to the debate on global warming.
As you know, we have passed some significant global warming initiatives in the legislature and it appears some significant regulatory decisions are in the making based on some alleged widespread acceptance by the scientific world that global warming is caused primarily by industrial activity. If enacted, these measures could be extremely detrimental to the economy of our state and it would be especially ironic if the data used to justify them proves to be faulty.
This book deals with some recent finding based on solid scientific research about the history of global climate for thousands of years. Frankly, the scientific results take exception with some of the positions that we have heard for several years that have been based on computer modeling. The material, which is supported by a thorough listing of supporting research notes, is based on scientific analysis and investigation, not hype, fear, and evangelizing.
Who is right?
We hope you will review the book and make up your own mind.S. Fred Singer, a climate scientist, is among the top scientists in the world. He was the first director of the D.S. National Weather Satellite Service, served five years as vice chairman of the U.S. National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, and is the author of more than 400 technical papers in scientific, economic, and public policy journals.
Dennis Avery is an agricultural economist and Senior Fellow of the Hudson Institute. He has held positions with, and won distinguished service awards from, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sincerely,
Representative Ralph Watts, Representative Dwayne Alons, Senator Jerry Behn, Representative Chuck Soderberg, Representative Jamie Van Fossen
Analysis
The authors,
S. Fred Singer and
Dennis T. Avery are not impartial scientists, but rather paid
hacks who have a long history of denying science for the benefit of
corporate interests.
Mr. Singer
has gone on record as promoting skepticism regarding the connections
between second hand smoke and lung cancer as well as CFCs and ozone
depletion
and DDT and environmental harm.
All of which has since been confirmed.
Avery
is infamous for his 1998 claim in the Wall Street Journal that the
Center for Disease Control had conducted studies showing that eating
an organic diet carried
8-times the risk of E. coli infection than eating a conventional
diet. The CDC had never conducted any such testing .
They certainly could be if managed irresponsibly. But whether or not you believe in global climate change, one thing is certain: The green movement is here and the shift toward clean renewable energy sources provides an incredible economic opportunity for Iowa in the form of value added agriculture, the creation of green collar jobs, and investment in (and development of) green technologies. Of course, this progress will force innovation on the part utility companies. While Mr. Soderberg seeks to hold us back from this progress to protect the bottom line of the utility company which he works for, I will seek to move us forward into the 21st century and capitalize on the green movement to create jobs and boost the economy while minimizing the impact on the bottom line of our rural electrical coops. A detail of my plan for Iowa's potential in a green economy can be read here.
