Case in point, from the Idaho Statesman:

Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore says there is no proof global warming is caused by humans, but it is likely enough that the world should turn to nuclear power - a concept tied closely to the underground nuclear testing his former environmental group formed to oppose.

The chemistry of the atmosphere is changing, and there is a high-enough risk that “true believers” like Al Gore are right that world economies need to wean themselves off fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gases, he said. . . .

The only viable solution is to build hundreds of nuclear power plants over the next century, Moore told the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. There isn’t enough potential for wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal or other renewable energy sources, he said. . . .

He represents the Clean Air and Safe Energy Coalition, a nuclear energy-backed group promoting reactors for electric energy generation. He began his career as a leader of Greenpeace fighting nuclear testing and working to save whales.

In recent years, he has taken on causes unpopular with his former group, like old-growth logging, keeping polyvinyl chlorides and now nuclear energy.

He says his change of heart comes from his background in science and a different approach to sustainability.

His critics, like Andrea Shipley, executive director of the Snake River Alliance, say he has simply sold out.

“The only reason Patrick Moore is backing something as unsafe and risky as nuclear power is he is being paid by the nuclear industry to do so,” Shipley said.

Haven’t you noticed this is the typical defense from environmentalists? If you oppose what we say: someone is paying you off — whether it’s Big Oil, or Big Nuclear, or Big Whatever.

Now honestly I don’t know too much about Patrick Moore, so perhaps he was never a “radical” environmentalist. But it is nice to hear a former leader of Greenpeace come out in favor of nuclear energy. The man didn’t sell out — he wised up.

But my favorite quote of the story: “There isn’t enough potential for wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal or other renewable energy sources.” Ha! See, guys like me always knew this: alternative sources have been around for a while, yet they cease to catch on. What’s the hold-up? Bring in the wind turbines and solar panels, let’s go!

Is there really hope for solar panels? Is it possible that the energy in the visible light spectrum exuded from the sun just isn’t powerful enough to run my whole house? For two-thirds of the year it can’t even burn my skin — how’s it going to cook my eggs? But I digress.

I may say some harsh things — some may call me a “flat-Earther” — but seriously, I’m all for alternative energy sources. Our dependency on oil isn’t good for anyone (except the oil companies).

As far as nuclear reactors are concerned, if the French can do it — we can do it.

Drilling in ANWR, construction of nuclear plants, further drilling in the Gulf of Mexico combined with the construction of new refineries — that’s how we’ll sure up our economy; that’s how we’ll find the time to research the technology needed to implement methods using alternative energy.