Earth Hour: Why I will leave my lights on

vancouversun.com ^ | March 25, 2011 | Ross McKitrick

[PROCON]

In 2009 I was asked by a journalist for my thoughts on the importance of Earth Hour. Here is my response.

I abhor Earth Hour. Abundant, cheap electricity has been the greatest source of human liberation in the 20th century. Every material social advance in the 20th century depended on the proliferation of inexpensive and reliable electricity. Giving women the freedom to work outside the home depended on the availability of electrical appliances that free up time from domestic chores. Getting children out of menial labour and into schools depended on the same thing, as well as the ability to provide safe indoor lighting for reading.

[metmom]

IIRC, someone mentioned that this is not a good idea, because if everyone does turn off all their electricity, they’ll be turning it all back on at once and that can overload the grid too fast and cause black outs and brown outs.

I’ll do my part to prevent that.

[LayoutGuru2]

Got my house lit up like a Christmas tree right now.

[FBD]

great editorial