Since I work for the Weather Channel here in Atlanta, it made sense to find a volunteer opportunity that fit in with my already existing passion for weather and all it encompasses. I also think people need to be more proactive in curbing man-made changes to our own environment.
I know that I’ve been personally affected by air pollution. When I used to live in Tampa, I lived in the Channelside District. Twice a week, the nearby chemical plant would release a foul stench into the air. It was literally like being hit with a wall of sulfur, which wasn’t pleasant at all. I temporarily lost my sense of smell during the time that I lived there, and it has only recently returned.
I think these big energy companies need to rethink how they’re using fossil fuels and find better ways to utilize them besides simply burning them. Coal, for instance, can be refined into graphene (which was just recently discovered last year by scientists at Rice University). Graphene is photo-voltaic and can be used to fabricate very effective solar cells. How ironic is that? Our nation’s biggest polluter can be used to create the next generation of clean energy. I’m definitely looking forward to it.
Written by Michael Brodeur
