Jon F. Buck Works for a national nonprofit organization and has participated in several projects to improve the community's economic and cultural development.

Other articles by Jon F. Buck:

Guest opinion: 'Do-nothing' Congress actually did itself proud

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I enjoyed the front-page article in the Arizona Daily Star on Roger Angel of the University of Arizona's Optical Sciences Department ("UA scientist sees sun power in new light," June 28). This fascinating researcher has unleashed innovations in telescopes that are revolutionary, supporting Tucson as an "optics valley," which draws numerous small research firms and attention to the UA as a major research institution. Bravo.

Now Angel is focusing his sights to include development of more cost-effective ways of tapping solar energy for generating electricity, using parabolic mirrors to focus the sun's energy to a "concentrated" collection point.

This article brought up two points that I want to share. First, my job brings me into contact with numerous businesses in Southern Arizona. One small optical-research firm I met with has an interesting product that may help solar collectors be produced, installed and maintained at lower costs.

Composite Mirror Applications, which was featured in the Star last year for its product used in Europe's Large Hadron Collider, manufactures thin, lightweight mirrors constructed from durable carbon rather than glass. In addition to reducing weight, shipping costs and the amount of metal framework needed to hold the mirrors, breakage is nonexistent and the energy to produce them is one-tenth that of glass. I hope UA researchers don't overlook a potentially revolutionary resource right in their own back yard.

Secondly, I am concerned about our country's response to global warming/climate change. There is a dangerous "group think" that can decimate our fragile economy by persuading citizens to support big tax hikes on energy.

That is exactly what our Congress members Raúl Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords voted for with "cap and trade," a bill that passed the House June 26.

Cap and trade is supposed to reduce carbon gases in our atmosphere, but could tax American businesses and families so much that jobs could shift overseas to countries that pollute more than the United States to create the same goods.

Man-made global warming is still theory. Maybe we are responsible, but maybe not; more scientists are questioning that hypothesis. There are natural phenomena that can warm our planet sans industrialization.

We do know the sun's energy varies (which might explain why other planets' atmospheres seem to be warming). We also know our solar system is bathed in cosmic radiation, which varies. The core of our planet is molten; an upturn inside may warm surface temperatures.

My favorite theory comes from a PBS program in which scientists demonstrated that Earth's magnetic poles appear ready to flip. Their findings showed the north/south poles reversed in polarity roughly every 200,000 years. These shifts are long overdue; its been about 700,000 years since the previous reversal. The dispersal of the magnetic fields could explain disorientation reported in migratory birds and fish.

If there is warming, the cause may be more esoteric. Perhaps the vibratory level of the planet is speeding up or the consciousnesses of people are being stepped-up, affecting the environment around us.

The long-term effects of global warming or cooling, if they happen, are far from known. There may be catastrophes, yet the results may be a Garden of Eden.

Meanwhile, let us embrace research and development to make alternative energy more efficient and competitive with fossil fuels, but restrain Congress from disabling our economy with sky-high taxes on gasoline, electricity and natural gas.